In 2023, the Indigenous Student Resource Center at Taiwan Tech gathered indigenous students to visit the Rukai Tribe in Daren Village, Taitung, to learn about the history and traditional culture of the Rukai Tribe. They then presented their concrete achievements under the theme "Ledra Light" during a week-long Rukai Tribe achievement exhibition.

The "Ledra Light" series of exhibitions took place from September 5th to September 15th at Taiwan Tech, coinciding with the annual Indigenous Peoples' Week. The event featured various exciting activities, including static exhibitions, indigenous stalls, panpipe workshops, Rukai tribal music and dance performances, special lectures, and the Daren Long Gallery exhibition titled "We Are All Beautiful Beings." Through the connection of art and culture, the hope was to showcase the beauty and steadfast spirit of Rukai tribal culture from the perspective of passionate contemporary indigenous students.

The chairman of the Indigenous Peoples Commission, Yi-Jiang Palarur (center), pictured with indigenous students from Taiwan Tech.

During the opening ceremony held today, on September 11th, Vice President of Taiwan Tech, Ji-Cheng Liu, delivered a speech. He emphasized that the university has approximately 10,800 students, with around 100 indigenous students. He likened the role of indigenous students within the university to that of rare earth elements in geopolitics, stating that they contribute in a unique and impactful way, making Taiwan Tech distinct and exceptional.

Vice President of Taiwan Tech, Ji-Cheng Liu, delivered the speech.

The chairman of the Indigenous Peoples Commission, Yi-Jiang Palarur, was invited as our esteemed guest at the opening. During his address, he provided words of encouragement to our indigenous students, emphasizing the importance of preserving and passing on their native language, songs, and cultural heritage. He illustrated his point by citing examples from other Austronesian ethnicities, such as the Maori people of New Zealand and the Marshallese, who share similar linguistic elements with Taiwan's indigenous communities. He reiterated that Taiwan is indeed an integral part of the Austronesian homeland.

The leader of the Aboriginal Association, the barbarian general, gave a speech.

Rukai Tribe student, Yu-Sheng Chen, a senior student from Department of Mechanical Engineering at Taiwan Tech, said that he came up with the idea and production of "Cegaw" because he wanted to share with visitors the difficulties he encountered at home, and finally got the approval and support of his parents. "Cegaw" also carries special significance as it is his ethnic name, representing not only a work of art but also an integral part of his life. 

Yu-Sheng Chen, a student from the Rukai ethnic group, said that "Cegaw" was his idea and production. He wanted to share with the visitors the difficulties he encountered at home, and finally got the approval and support of his parents.

In this exhibition, five sets of works are presented, each offering a unique perspective. These creations reflect the students' experiences from fieldwork in the tribal community and their transformation into creative expressions. These include:

1. "醞釀" (icibi - communal dining): This piece represents the unity and warmth of the tribal community, allowing viewers to translate the concept of "working together" onto a light-sensitive installation through their hands.

2. "凝聚" (Coalescence): This artwork portrays tribe members gathering around a bonfire, illuminating each other's faces. Through language and symbolic cards representing twigs added to the fire, it symbolizes the continuation of "sharing" the fire's warmth.

"綻放" represents a significant symbol in the Daren Village community - a swing set. It symbolizes the continuation of life and the emotions shared among the tribal members.

"祝福予鍊" creatively incorporates traditional necklace beads, each rich with diverse meanings, symbolizing the blessings and hopes of the tribal community. This transformed artwork commemorates the beautiful moments when the community came together during fieldwork.

Additionally, "綻放" holds significance as a vital symbol in the Daren Village community - a swing set. It symbolizes the continuation of life and the emotions shared among tribal members. "祝福予鍊" takes the varied symbolic beads from traditional necklaces, representing the blessings and aspirations of the community. The artist's transformation of these elements serves to memorialize the harmonious moments experienced during the fieldwork. "Cegaw" narrates the story of a Rukai child returning to the tribe to participate in traditional youth activities, sharing cultural experiences cultivated through perseverance and active participation, emphasizing the significance of "coming home" to the community.

The curatorial concept for this year extends from the creative context of the five artworks featured in the "Ledra" exhibition. The exhibition space is constructed using iron bed frames, branches, canvas, and blue tape, complemented by stone installations. This creates a unique atmosphere distinct from the usual corridor setting, aiming to evoke the imagery of dreaming in the mountains, allowing visitors to experience the feeling of "dreaming on the hillside."

The exhibition's theme, "Ledra" (light) in the Rukai language, narrates the wisdom stories collected by 16 contemporary indigenous youth from Taiwan Tech during their fieldwork in the tribe. It parallels the discovery of a radiant beacon within the depths of the darkness, illuminating the indigenous identity of the younger generation. "Light" also serves as a metaphor for enlightenment, symbolizing the exploration process of indigenous identity between contemporary mainstream society and tradition. Given that the indigenous students at Taiwan Tech are urban indigenous individuals, their participation in clubs offers a practical means to transform their fieldwork experiences into a profound cultural identity for contemporary indigenous people.

A group photograph was taken with all the distinguished guests during the opening reception.

The Rukai Tribe music and dance performance will take place on September 15th, featuring indigenous students from Taiwan Tech as performers. We cordially invite everyone who has an appreciation for indigenous culture to join us. For more detailed information about the exhibition and event activities, please visit the "Ledra Light" fan page and follow us on IG at Ledra.