To address workforce gaps and strengthen professional capacity among indigenous language personnel, the Council of Indigenous Peoples (CIP) held the opening ceremony today (April 15) for its Indigenous Language Promotion Personnel Training Program. For the first time, the program introduces a systematic, institutionalized training model that combines intensive centralized instruction with practical exercises, establishing a trackable and evaluable training framework. Outstanding candidates holding intermediate-high level or higher indigenous language certification have been recruited to undergo several months of rigorous training.

The CIP noted that in recent years, language promotion personnel have faced challenges, such as an aging workforce and staffing shortages. To ensure the continuity of indigenous language transmission, this training program brings together individuals committed to language promotion to equip them with job-ready professional capabilities, laying a stable, long-term foundation for language revitalization efforts.

Minister Ljaucu·Zingrur emphasized that the 24 selected trainees represent seven indigenous groups: Amis, Bunun, Paiwan, Atayal, Truku, Seediq, and Tsou. Participants range in age from 22 to 52, with 15 trainees (63%) under the age of 35, demonstrating a growing willingness among younger generations to engage in language revitalization and taking on the responsibility of cultural transmission. To enable participants to fully focus on training, the CIP provides full accommodation and meals, reducing the financial burden on trainees while fostering cross-tribal exchange and collaboration through shared living arrangements for a truly collective learning environment for language promotion.

The CIP underscores that language promotion personnel serve as the frontline in cultural revitalization. Through this comprehensive training program, more indigenous individuals can be equipped to engage in language preservation and promotion. The CIP also plans to collaborate with higher education institutions to launch a publicly funded indigenous language talent cultivation program, aiming to attract more young students and develop a new generation of professionally trained language practitioners.