Kaidagelan Cultural Center Introduction
The Ketagalan Culture Center records the historical context related to the Pingpu people, as well as contemporary indigenous arts and artifacts. In addition to hot springs, Beitou offers a unique indigenous atmosphere. The name "Beitou" is derived from the Ketagalan language, meaning "witch," and it was once the home of the Ketagalan people over four hundred years ago. To preserve and promote indigenous culture and arts, the Ketagalan Culture Center, established by the Indigenous Affairs Commission of Taipei City Government in November 2002, is dedicated to showcasing indigenous cultural arts, providing urban indigenous people with a space for cultural heritage and skills development. Before entering the culture center, a row of wooden piles stands along the road, decorated with various expressive tin sculptures, symbolizing the unity of different ethnic groups with hands linked, representing the indigenous community as one family. The interior of the center is organized by themes, with lively and engaging pathways that display the historical and cultural context of indigenous peoples, making it a recreational spot for close encounters with indigenous culture. The ten-story main building features an exterior made of distinct stone materials, resembling a breathing house, with a strong minimalist design that echoes the surrounding hot spring hotels and Beitou Hot Spring Park. The bright and spacious lobby on the first floor is adorned with colorful tribal woven totem tiles, leading visitors into the embrace of the tribe; historical stone carvings and striking wooden sculptures are captivating, while various hunting tools hang on the walls, inviting imagination of the indigenous people's traditional life of hunting water deer and wild boar. Every aspect of the culture center reflects the footprints of indigenous life! The first to third floors exhibit important artifacts of indigenous culture as well as Pingpu collections, while the public spaces serve as venues for performances, events, gatherings, and skills workshops, acting as a place for urban indigenous people to bond emotionally. The center also provides reading services for indigenous-themed books, with diverse collections enhancing visitors' appreciation and understanding of indigenous cultural arts, inspiring students to explore and understand diverse ethnic groups. Taiwan's majestic mountains and plains have nurtured a rich diversity of indigenous cultures. The Ketagalan Culture Center preserves rituals, festivals, and life customs that reflect nature worship, allowing visitors to learn about the earliest inhabitants of Taiwan, the indigenous peoples, who possess incredible ancestral wisdom on this land. If lucky, visitors might witness indigenous groups in traditional attire gathering or performing in the culture center, showcasing their pure and passionate spirit. Since its opening, the Ketagalan Culture Center has hosted numerous series of indigenous cultural events and traditional craft exhibitions, with many works by indigenous artists displayed here, merging the indigenous homeland with urban life, tradition with modernity, to fulfill the important significance of the culture center. The diverse ethnic groups in Taiwan have developed vibrant cultural colors, and the culture center serves not only as a treasure trove of national indigenous cultural collections but also as a multifunctional training center for indigenous art and culture. The Ketagalan Culture Center is located in the Xinbeitou Hot Spring area. After experiencing rich culture and art, visitors may stroll through the misty hot spring town to continue their search for the traces of the Ketagalan people!
