THE ISSUANCE OF THE TAIWAN INDIGENOUS PEOPLE CULTURAL SERIES COIN SET─KAVALAN

The Central Bank of the Republic of China（Taiwan）will issue the 11th coin set of the Taiwan Indigenous Peoples Cultural Series–KAVALAN on November 20, 2008. A total of 55,000 sets will be issued. The Bank of Taiwan is appointed as the delegate of the Central Bank of the Republic of China（Taiwan） to deal with the sale of the coin sets. Each set, including a NT$20 proof coin in circulation and a commemorative proof medal, costs NT$250. Each person may purchase only one set of coins at one time.

Kavalan is the ancient name of Yilan. The Kavalan aboriginals are known to be the earliest indigenous group to inhabit the Lanyang Plain.
The Kavalan lived from farming, fishing and hunting, with the women responsible for farming and the males in charge of fishing and hunting. The tribe lived in bamboo houses with thatched roofs and the production of wine, salt and woven cloth was part of their self-sufficient way of life.
The Kavalan have preserved their traditional language, customs, ceremonies and festivals over the years. In more recent times, the tribe has also been reviving traditional songs and dance, the Harvest Festival, banana silk weaving techniques and other unique cultural traditions. The Kavalan have also erected tribal totems, the centerpiece of which is the tribe's ancestral tree—the Formosan nato tree (Palaquium formosanum).
In the 1990s, the Kavalan launched a campaign to revive the tribe's traditional culture. This movement not only has fostered greater tribal awareness, but also has restored the rich and distinctive traditions of the Kavalan people.

We are grateful to the Council of Indigenous Peoples, Executive Yuan, for examining the symbols and literature used in the preparation for the issuance of this coin set.