Several important Taiwan's indigenous literary works are to be displayed at the "2023 Taiwan-Guam Austronesian International Arts Exhibition," which will be held at the Guam Museum in mid-May, as part of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between the National Museum of Taiwan Literature (NMTL) and the University of Guam (UOG).
The works on display will include Bukun Ismahasan Islituan's (卜袞．伊斯瑪哈單．伊斯立端) diary that is written in the Bunun language and Balriwakes Raera's (陸森寶) valuable manuscript biographies written in the Puyuma language by using Katakana, a Japanese syllabary. The English translations of Taiwan's indigenous works will also be on display, ranging from "Hunter School (獵人學校：山豬．飛鼠．撒可努)" by Sakinu Yalonglong's (亞榮隆．撒可努), "The Soul of Jade Mountain (玉山魂)" by Husluman Vava (霍斯陸曼．伐伐), and "Sorceress Diguwan (笛鸛：大巴六九部落之大正年間)" by Badai (巴代), to name a few. It is hoped that the exhibition will increase the international visibility of Taiwan's indigenous literature.
The MOU was inked by NMTL director Nikky Lin (林巾力) and UOG senior vice president Anita Borja Enriquez at a ceremony on Jan. 11, with the aim of strengthening bilateral exchanges and collaboration between the two sides. During the exhibition, NMTL will sign another MOU with the Guam Museum for further collaboration.
Lin stated that this MOU covers a wide range of areas including exchanges and visits between librarians and experts, exhibitions, publications and professional training. He also pointed out that the island has a rich and diverse Austronesian culture and history, which is similar to Taiwan's native culture. It is hoped that in the future, Taiwan's indigenous authors will be invited to Guam to host events to promote mutual understanding and exchanges.