सकीज़ाया

Sakizaya is an Austronesian Formosan language of the East Formosan branch, recognized as Taiwan's 13th official aboriginal nation in 2007 after centuries of being classified within Amis (ami). The Sakizaya are the descendants of survivors of the 1878 Takobowan Massacre, when Qing forces destroyed the historic Takobowan settlement on the Hualien plain; survivors merged with Amis communities, resulting in the Sakizaya identity being linguistically and ethnically subsumed for ~125 years. The 2007 recognition came after sustained community advocacy, with the Sakizaya cultural revitalization through the annual Palamal harvest ceremony. Sakizaya retains distinct phonological features from Amis (vowel system, certain consonants) and unique vocabulary.