Construction of Taiwan's Indigenous Peoples Museum to Start in June; Vision Hall Expected to be Completed by End of Next Year

(CNA, Taipei, May 20, by reporter Wang Shu-fen) Minister of the Council of Indigenous Peoples, Icyang Parod (Ljaucu．Zingrur), stated in the Legislative Yuan today that construction on the National Indigenous Peoples Museum will begin in June, with its Vision Hall expected to be completed by the end of next year. The Internal Administration Committee of the Legislative Yuan had arranged for business reports from the Council of Indigenous Peoples, the Indigenous Peoples Cultural Development Center, and the Indigenous Languages Research and Development Foundation, followed by a Q&A session where several legislators expressed concern about the museum's progress. The museum will be located on the shores of Chengcing Lake in Kaohsiung. DPP Legislator Huang Jie pointed out that the museum's progress has been repeatedly delayed for a year. While related construction projects around Chengcing Lake have been completed and the Goringo Natural Park has opened, attracting more and more visitors, the museum site remains inactive and incompatible with the surrounding landscape, prompting many questions from the public. Icyang Parod stated that the construction contract for the museum has been awarded and work will commence in June, with the Vision Hall to be completed first by the end of next year. KMT Legislator Wang Hung-wei questioned whether the museum's budget would be increased, noting that the Executive Yuan had approved a budget of NT$5.859 billion for the period from 2024 to 2031, and that she had observed budget increases in many previous projects by the Council. Icyang Parod responded that there are currently no plans to increase the museum's budget. DPP Legislator Li Po-yi suggested that the Council discuss with the Kaohsiung City Government how to connect the museum with the adjacent, already developed Goringo Natural Park to create integrated tourist itineraries. According to a written report from the Council, the museum will also establish a digital archive system. Scheduled to go online in August, it will operate under the concept of 'digital repatriation' to integrate resources of Taiwanese indigenous artifacts from museums at home and abroad, creating a platform for exchange that combines cultural inheritance and academic research, thereby promoting cooperation and public participation. (Editor: Chen Ching-fang) 1150520