KANAKANAVU – 卡那卡那富族

Location of the Island of Taiwan in East Asia
( ontheworldmap.com )

Island of Taiwan & Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu Islands.
Also shown are:
Green Island (Lu Dao) & Orchid Island (Lan Yu).
( cia.gov )

Administrative Divisions of Taiwan
( nouahsark.com )

Traditional geographical distribution of Highland Peoples.
Alternate spellings or names:
Taroko (Truku, Seediq); Yami (Tao)
( wikipedia . org )

Satellite image of Taiwan showing the central mountains. Compare this image with the map (above) to appreciate the geographic distribution of the Highland Peoples.
( geology . com )

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THE KANAKANAVU PEOPLE – 卡那卡那富族

  • The Kanakanavu are one of the recognized Indigenous Peoples of Taiwan, officially acknowledged by the government in 2014. They are an Austronesian-speaking people with deep historical roots in the central–southern mountains of Taiwan.
  • Estimated population: roughly 400–500 people
    They are among the smallest Indigenous groups in Taiwan
    Many community members live in urban areas today, but cultural centers remain in their traditional homeland
  • The Kanakanavu traditionally inhabit mountainous areas of southern Taiwan, primarily in:
    Namasia District (那瑪夏區)
    Kaohsiung City
    Upper reaches of the Laonong River
    This region borders the traditional territories of the Tsou and Hla’alua peoples, with whom the Kanakanavu share some historical and cultural similarities.
  • Kanakanavu language belongs to the Tsouic subgroup of the Austronesian language family
    It is critically endangered
    Only a small number of fluent speakers remain, mostly elders
    Revitalization efforts include:
    Community language classes
    Documentation projects
    Inclusion in Taiwan’s Indigenous language education programs
  • Society was traditionally clan-based
    Leadership roles were closely tied to ritual knowledge and moral authority rather than centralized political power
    Villages emphasized cooperation, shared labor, and respect for ancestral traditions
  • Traditional Kanakanavu belief centers on:
    Ancestral spirits
    Sacred rituals connected to agriculture, hunting, and seasonal cycles
    A strong spiritual connection to mountains, rivers, and forests
    Important rituals were conducted to:
    Ensure good harvests
    Maintain harmony with the spirit world
    Protect the community from misfortune
    Today, many Kanakanavu are also Christian (especially Presbyterian), though traditional beliefs continue to influence cultural identity and ceremonies.
  • Subsistence and Traditional Economy
    Historically, the Kanakanavu relied on:
    Swidden (slash-and-burn) agriculture
    Cultivation of millet, taro, sweet potatoes
    Hunting and foraging
    River fishing
    Millet held particular ritual and symbolic importance, similar to other mountain Indigenous groups.
  • Like many small Indigenous peoples, the Kanakanavu face challenges such as:
    Language loss
    Out-migration of youth
    Limited visibility in mainstream society
    However, recognition in 2014 has helped support:
    Cultural revitalization projects
    Language preservation
    Greater representation in Indigenous affairs
  • Relationship to Other Indigenous Groups
    Linguistically and culturally close to the Hla’alua people
    Both groups were historically classified under larger ethnic labels before gaining separate recognition
    Distinct identity maintained through language, ritual practices, and oral history
  • Why the Kanakanavu Matter
    The Kanakanavu people are a powerful reminder of Taiwan’s extraordinary Indigenous diversity. Despite their small population, they preserve:
    A unique language
    Distinct ceremonial traditions
    Deep ecological knowledge of Taiwan’s southern mountain regions
    Their ongoing efforts at cultural survival are an important part of Taiwan’s broader Indigenous revitalization movement.
  • ey.gov.tw
  • taiwanobsessed.com – Meaningful Ways to Experience Indigenous Culture in Taiwan” @ Nick Kembel’s “Taiwan Obsessed” website (Terrirfic site !!!)
  • wikipedia.org

  • iwgia.org
  • iwgia.org – The Indigenous World 2023: Taiwan @ IWGIA – International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (a global human rights organisation dedicated to promoting & defending Indigenous Peoples’ rights)
  • endangeredlanguages.com

  • EASY SEARCH FOR MORE LINKS ! . . . . .

  • scholar.google.com – The Kanakanavu People – 卡那卡那富族 @ Google Scholar
  • youtube.com – The Kanakanavu People – 卡那卡那富族 @ You Tube . com
  • images.google.com – The Kanakanavu People – 卡那卡那富族 @ Google Images

  • The Language of the Kanakanavu People – 卡那卡那富族的語言

  • wikipedia.org – Kanakanavu Language – 卡那卡那富語 @ Wikepedia . org
  • taiwantourtips.com – The People & Their Language @ Taiwan Tour Tips website
  • laskon.com – Kanakanavu language @ Encyclopedia Laskonpedia

  • helsinki.fi – “Efforts & Concerns for Indigenous Language Education in Taiwan”, in: “Handbook of Indigenous Education” (Springer, 2019) @ University of Helsinki Institutional Repository (Finland)
  • tekaharoa.com – “Identity, Memory & Legacy: Indigenous Taiwan” @ “Te Kaharoa” academic journal of Māori culture & Indigenous research (Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand)
  • researchgate.net – “Language shift of Taiwan’s indigenous peoples: a case study of Kanakanavu & Saaroa” @ Journal of Multilingual & Multicultural Development

  • endangeredlanguages.com – Kanakanavu Language @ The Endangered Languages Project website, sponsored by the First Peoples’ Cultural Council (Canada) & The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Department of Linguistics (U.S.A.)
  • researchgate.net – “Tense-aspect conditioned agent marking in Kanakanavu, an Austronesian language of Taiwan” @ Open Linguistics Journal
  • timescolonist.com – “Linguist races to save aboriginal languages in Taiwan, birthplace of a major language family” @ Times Colonist Newspaper (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada)

  • elararchive.org – “A documentation of Saaroa, a Moribund Austronesian Language of Taiwan” @ Taiwan Endangered Languages Archive
  • taipeitimes.com – “Linguist races to save Aboriginal language” @ Taipei Times Newspaper website

  • EASY SEARCH FOR MORE LINKS ! . . . . .

  • scholar.google.com – The Language of the Kanakanavu People – 卡那卡那富族的語言 @ Google Scholar
  • youtube.com – The Language of the Kanakanavu People – 卡那卡那富族的語言 @ You Tube . com
  • images.google.com – The Language of the Kanakanavu People – 卡那卡那富族的語言 @ Google Images

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LATEST PAGE UPDATE: January 15 , 2026 .
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