Preserving Important Folk Customs: Makotaay Harvest Festival Committee Adds New Strength

The important folk custom, the 'Amis ilisin Harvest Festival of the Makotaay (Gangkou) Tribe in Fengbin Township, Hualien County,' has added a new preserver: the 'Makotaay Harvest Festival Preparatory Committee.' The Ministry of Culture stated that it will continue to assist the preservers in sustainable inheritance. The 'Amis ilisin Harvest Festival of the Makotaay Tribe in Fengbin Township, Hualien County' was registered as an important folk custom in 2011, with the 'Hualien County Jipulan Cultural Development Association' recognized as the preserver, responsible for implementing preservation and maintenance plans and conducting investigation and recording work. The Ministry of Culture issued a press release today stating that in order to integrate with the tribe's traditional organization, the Hualien County Government applied to the Ministry of Culture in 2024 to add the 'Makotaay Harvest Festival Preparatory Committee' as a preserver. The Ministry of Culture handled the recognition procedures in accordance with the Cultural Heritage Preservation Act, which was passed by the Indigenous Important Folk Custom Review Committee. The newly added preserver, the 'Makotaay Harvest Festival Preparatory Committee,' is composed of preparatory committee members led by the mama no kapah (Father of the Youth). The committee is dedicated to preserving the traditions of the Makotaay tribe's ilisin festival. During the rituals, male age groups work together, with the mama no kapah responsible for overall coordination to ensure the execution of various rituals. Review committee member Sun Da-chuan stated at the review meeting that the 'Makotaay Harvest Festival Preparatory Committee' has a clear understanding of the operation methods and knowledge of the rituals, has many years of practical experience, and possesses preservation and maintenance capabilities. Huang Ji-ping, Director of the Center for Indigenous Studies at National Chengchi University, also stated that the preparatory committee led by the mama no kapah is capable of assisting in the progress of the ilisin and is willing to engage in preservation and maintenance work. The Ministry of Culture stated that with the addition of the new preserver for the 'Amis ilisin Harvest Festival of the Makotaay Tribe in Fengbin Township, Hualien County,' it will subsequently inherit the preservation of rituals together with the Hualien County Jipulan Cultural Development Association, promoting greater effectiveness in various preservation and maintenance tasks. The Ministry of Culture will continue to assist the preservers to ensure the sustainable inheritance of indigenous folk intangible cultural assets and highlight Taiwan's diverse cultural values.