KAOHSIUNG (TVBS News) — The National Museum of Indigenous Peoples in Taiwan has secured its first phase of funding, amounting to NT$5.8 billion. Premier Chen Chien-Jen on Monday (May 6) highlighted that the museum would not only showcase the culture of Taiwan's indigenous peoples but also serve as a global hub for the cultures of Austronesian peoples.
During a visit to the proposed site in the Niaosong District of Kaohsiung, Chen stated that the museum is expected to play a crucial role in connecting Taiwan with Austronesian-speaking communities worldwide.
Chen Chu, chairwoman of the Human Rights Commission, Icyang Parod, minister of the Council of Indigenous Peoples, and Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai, along with several other representatives, also inspected the proposed site.
The Executive Yuan approved the museum's first phase of construction in March, which will run from 2024 to 2031. The second phase will focus on promoting indigenous culture and international cooperation.
The museum will be located near Chengcing Lake, a location that will be easily accessible via the future Kaohsiung MRT Yellow Line. Plans are in place to connect the museum with nearby schools and various types of exhibition halls, making it a hub for multiculturalism and leisure tourism.
The museum's main functions will include displaying indigenous artifacts, providing ecological education experiences, and promoting indigenous cultural and creative industries and local tourism.
It aims to strengthen mutual recognition of equal status among Taiwan's ethnic groups and establish a communication platform between indigenous peoples, the Han people, and the world, fully showcasing the culture and history of Taiwan's indigenous peoples.
