Last Updated on July 30, 2025
Earlier this year, Taiwan’s Council of Indigenous Peoples (CIP) launched a groundbreaking pilot program that establishes a testing ground for a new tribal council system in Taiwan. Established under Article 2-1 of Taiwan’s Indigenous Peoples Basic Law, the initiative represents a major step toward securing legal autonomy for all of Taiwan’s Indigenous Peoples.
Under the new program, five Indigenous communities—the Atolan (Taitung County), Kalibuan (Nantou County), Tjanaqasiya (Pingtung County), Pangwi (Pingtung County), and Sakar (Hualien County)—will test new legal and administrative frameworks that allow them to enter into contracts, manage public affairs, and receive funding independently.
Traditionally, Indigenous governance in Taiwan was rooted in clan-based councils and community consensus. Modern state systems displaced these structures by requiring Indigenous communities to coordinate with municipal or central government authorities. Under the new program, the selected tribal nations are being recognized as “public juristic persons,” which can potentially restore their historical authority by granting them legal standing to control resources, deliver services, and administer their own programs.
Alongside the pilot program, the CIP has introduced the “Regulations for Tribal Convention,” which encourages the development of internal consultation and decision-making systems within each tribal nation. These frameworks are designed to help communities express collective opinions and manage affairs according to their own customs and traditions.
However, the pilot is not backed by comprehensive legislation, and CIP officials acknowledge that current laws do not fully authorize the establishment of tribal public juristic persons. The purpose of the pilot program, then, is to generate real-world experience that will inform future legislation and regulatory design.
In June, the CIP clarified that the pilot program is intended to co-create flexible governance structures. The CIP said that while the program does not replace the authority of local governments, it aims to gradually build a parallel system of Indigenous self-administration.
The Council added that adjustments will be made as issues arise during the pilot, particularly regarding the interface between tribal institutions and local government bodies. The tribes involved will help shape the eventual framework for broader implementation.
The CIP expects the pilot program will pave the way for drafting official “Regulations on the Establishment of Indigenous Tribal Public Juristic Persons” in the coming years.
Civil society organizations and academic institutions have been invited to observe the process and provide feedback.
If successful, the program could offer a new model for Indigenous self-governance that integrates traditional practices with modern legal recognition.
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