NEW TAIPEI (TVBS News) — New Taipei's Indigenous Peoples Department (新北市原住民族行政局) announced on Thursday (Jan. 2) that the Wulai Atayal Museum (烏來泰雅民族博物館) will engage in cultural exchange in Europe this year. The initiative aims to share Taiwan's indigenous culture while gaining insights into international museum operations.
Siku Yaway (林瑋茜), the department's director, told the Central News Agency (CNA, 中央社) that this year's budget increased by NT$20 million compared to last year. She said the funds will support indigenous language preservation, drama competitions, tribal universities, and the training of indigenous athletes.
In December 2024, directors and researchers from international museums, including Sweden's National Museum of World Culture and the U.K.'s Pitt Rivers Museum, visited the Wulai Atayal Museum. According to Yaway, they explored the collections and exchanged ideas. She noted that the department is coordinating with the central government to identify European museum partners, hoping to enhance the museum's cultural and tourism industries.
At the end of 2024, the New Taipei City Council reviewed the department's 2025 budget of NT$390 million, nearly facing a deadlock. After negotiations, the budget passed without cuts. Kuomintang Councillor Dongi Laay (楊春妹) urged Yaway to consider diverse opinions and communicate with tribespeople and association leaders rather than solely drafting budgets in the office. Meanwhile, independent Councillor Nikar Falong (宋雨蓁) criticized the department for its poor budget execution and intense subjectivity, which he said neglected indigenous housing rights.
