ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Indigenous Area (Taiwan)

An indigenous area in Taiwan is a special place where the people who have always lived in Taiwan, even before other people from other places came to live there, get to keep their own traditions and way of living. These people are called indigenous people or aboriginals.

Think of it this way - Let's say you and your friends are playing in a park. Suddenly, a new group of kids comes and wants to play with you guys. In Taiwan's case, these new kids are from different countries or places who came to Taiwan to live. But you and your friends have your own games and rules that you've been playing for years. So, you ask the new kids to wait and watch how you play first before playing together. This is what indigenous people in Taiwan get to do. They have their own games, traditions, languages, and culture that they've been practicing for a long long time, and they don't want those things to disappear just because new people from other places have arrived.

To protect their way of life, the government of Taiwan has set aside special places and said that only indigenous people are allowed to live there. These special places are called indigenous areas. When you're in an indigenous area, you might notice that the houses look different or the people speak a different language or wear different clothes. These are cultural differences that make each place in the world special and unique.

So, when you hear someone talk about indigenous areas in Taiwan, remember that it's a special place where the people who have always lived in Taiwan get to keep their culture alive and thriving.