Chinese Name: 臺灣卡那卡那富族發展協會
Address: 3rd Neighborhood, No. 190, Namaxia Dist., Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
Did You Know That…?
In 2021, the Kaohsiung City Government officially recognized the Taiwan Kanakanavu Development Association as the preserver of Pasika’arai tradition.
On June 26, 2014, the Kanakanavu were officially recognized by Taiwan’s government as the 16th indigenous group of Taiwan. As a community unique to the Kaohsiung area, the Kanakanavu people reside along the Nanzixian River (楠梓仙溪), known as “Namasia” in their native language. The ethnic group consists of members from 17 families, with a total population of approximately 500 people. Their main festivities include Mikongu, an annual ritual, and Pasika’arai, a river festival.
Around three centuries ago, as Han Chinese migrants began settling in Taiwan’s plains, the Plains Indigenous peoples started relocating to the hills. The Kanakanavu, originally hill inhabitants, were affected by this influx of outsiders and moved further into the mountainous areas to improve their livelihood. Eventually, they established their community in the Nanzixian River region, an area rich in river biodiversity that allowed their tribe to thrive. To express their gratitude to the God of the River, the Kanakanavu people organize the Pasika’arai festival every July or August.
During the Pasika’arai festival, Kanakanavu men embark on a sacred journey at the break of dawn, usually around three or four in the morning. Guided by a ritual leader, they make their way to the river where they engage in the ancient ritual to express gratitude to the God of the River for bestowing prosperity upon their community. Kong Hsien-chieh (孔賢傑), a council member of the Kanakanavu Development Association, explained that in earlier times, each family managed their own section of the river and performed their own rituals. The ritual leader would initiate proceedings by inquiring whether family members had good dreams before the ceremonial event, which were seen as signs that the festival could proceed. Today, the ritual has evolved into a collective community event.
The Kanakanavu believe three plants help ward off misfortune: silvergrass, ramie, and quinoa, all of which play important roles in the ritual. At the start, silvergrass is tied and placed near the ritual site to keep away evil spirits. The ritual leader then uses ramie threads to lead collective prayers, with participants holding the threads. Quinoa is placed on participants’ heads, and offerings for the God of the River are set on rocks nearby, accompanied by prayers for blessings and a prosperous year.
After the Pasika’arai, participants often rest briefly and stay a while. Adults use this time to teach younger members traditional fishing methods. They share not only the skills necessary for successful fishing but also the significance of specific family-owned fishing grounds and the cultural prohibitions. Upon returning to the village, all members sing ancient songs and celebrate together, marking the festival’s conclusion.
The Pasika’arai celebration was discontinued for fifty years but was revived in the 1990s amid growing social movements. The 2009 Typhoon Morakot, which severely affected central and southern Taiwan and altered the Nanzixian River’s geology, led the Kanakanavu to shift the festival to March or April in recent years to ensure its continuity. The Kanakanavu remain dedicated to sustainably passing on their cultural heritage.
(Photo credit: Kaohsiung Museum of History)