Hope Talk
希望講堂
Echoes of Taroko: Music carries our land and memories
太魯閣的迴音：
音樂承載我們的土地與記憶
Aug 24
8月24日
3:30pm - 4:30pm
About the Program
Through the music composed by Lihaw Lihang, the Truku people’s emotional ties with the natural environment, ancestral history, and cultural heritage are explored.
In the forests of Taroko, there are traces of migration and memories of the Truku people's lives. Lihaw Lihang grew up in the forests of Taroko. He has walked the mountains and hunted with hunters since he was a child, inheriting the wisdom and beliefs of the Truku people in coexistence of the mountains and forests. Now, he is a mountain guide, raised by the mountains, forests, and valleys. They are the inspiration for his music.
Lihaw Lihang’s music expresses his feelings towards this land, which continues to flow under the changes of generations, life, and culture.
His melodies not only convey his own interpretations of life, but also reflect the beliefs and emotions of the Truku people, capturing the deep connection to the mountains and valleys. On this trip to Canada, Lihaw Lihang would like to promote cultural understanding and exchange. He will share the important role of music in the preservation and transmission of culture.
He hopes that more people will gain a deeper understanding of the rich history and culture of the Truku people, and also engage in understanding and respect among different cultures.
Lihaw Lihang, a Truku singer-songwriter and a walker of mountain paths, channels his life journey through music. His guitar becomes wings, while his mother tongue carries the soul’s song—expressing the deep emotional ties between his people and the land, sea, and sky.
This performance features selections from his debut album Riding the Wind and his upcoming 2025 release, Alang mu Kbayang — Mother’s Kbayang. Lihaw conveys a heartfelt longing for his mother and a profound connection to ancestral land. His songs recall childhood memories of growing up in the mountains as a young hunter, the wonders of the natural world, and the beauty of Truku traditions. At the same time, they draw attention to the challenges and realities faced by Indigenous communities today.
With every note, Lihaw sings of love for the earth and calls for its care. His voice carries hope and courage—urging us all to move forward with resilience. This performance is a song of remembrance for mothers and fathers, and a tribute to every soul walking the path home.
From the Curating Team
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TAIWANfest Toronto is grateful to be held on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples, that is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We acknowledge our privilege to be gathered here, and commit to work with and be respectful to the Indigenous peoples of this land while we engage in meaningful conversations of culture and reconciliation.