The Indigenous Student Resource Center at National University of Tainan (NUTN) hosted the "Harvest of Time: Indigenous Arts and Culture Week" from May 27 to 29, 2026. Through exhibitions, hands-on workshops, cultural lectures, and traditional architectural practices, the event showcased the richness of Indigenous cultures and students' learning achievements while promoting Indigenous cultural education and intercultural understanding across campus.
A three-day exhibition was held at the "Vitality Corner" on NUTN's Fucheng Campus, featuring handmade works created by Indigenous students. The exhibition included craft pieces, cultural designs, and works inspired by everyday aesthetics, reflecting students' creativity and their engagement with Indigenous cultural learning and practice. Student exhibitors also led interactive craft workshops, allowing participants not only to appreciate the artworks but also to experience Indigenous culture firsthand and gain a deeper understanding of the value of cultural knowledge and traditional craftsmanship.
In addition to the exhibition, the center organized the lecture "Let's Build Together: Stories of Mountains, Culture, and Returning Home" on May 27 at the Student Activity Center. The event invited a young cultural practitioner from the Tsou Indigenous community in Alishan, Chiayi, to share personal experiences of returning to their hometown to engage in cultural work, as well as insights into Tsou traditional crafts and community-based cultural practices. Combining storytelling with practical demonstrations, the lecture encouraged participants to explore Indigenous cultures and the significance of young people's contributions to cultural revitalization from multiple perspectives.
One of the event's highlights was the construction of a traditional Tsou structure under the guidance of the invited cultural practitioner. Using bamboo materials brought from Alishan, students and participants collaboratively built the structure according to traditional methods and techniques. Through this hands-on experience, participants gained a deeper appreciation of the cultural values, ecological wisdom, and traditional knowledge embedded in Indigenous architecture.
This marked the first time that the Indigenous Student Resource Center had offered a hands-on course on traditional Indigenous architecture on campus, extending cultural learning beyond the classroom and into collaborative creation and practical experience.
The completed Tsou structure later served as the ceremonial entrance gate for graduates participating in the "Harvest of Time: Indigenous Arts and Culture Week and Joint Mini Graduation Ceremony of Eight Indigenous Student Resource Centers" on May 29. The symbolic gateway represented the passing on of cultural heritage and the beginning of a new chapter in the graduates' lives, connecting the outcomes of cultural learning with the celebration of academic achievement and highlighting the integration of cultural education, artistic creativity, and inter-university exchange.
According to the Indigenous Student Resource Center, the Harvest of Time: Indigenous Arts and Culture Week served not only as a platform for Indigenous students to showcase their learning achievements but also as an important initiative for promoting cultural exchange and Indigenous education for all. Through exhibitions, lectures, craft experiences, and hands-on workshops, the event provided opportunities for more students and faculty members to engage with and appreciate Indigenous cultures.
The center also hopes to strengthen networks among students, Indigenous cultural practitioners, and Indigenous Student Resource Centers from other universities, fostering ongoing collaboration and ensuring that Indigenous cultural heritage continues to thrive and be passed on within the university community.