Tainan: A mother and daughter in Tainan have become the first individuals to officially register as Indigenous Siraya people following the government's recognition of the Siraya as Taiwan's 17th Indigenous group on July 30. The registration process was completed at the South District Household Registration Office in Tainan and was observed by Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che.According to Focus Taiwan, the registration of the mother, Mai Fang-chi, and her daughter, Shih Ya-hsin, marks a significant milestone for the Siraya people. For generations, the Siraya have sought acknowledgment of their cultural identity and historical significance in Tainan. The city's household registration offices began accepting applications for Indigenous Siraya identification on August 13, following the Council of Indigenous Peoples' announcement of the eligibility criteria.As of Tuesday, a total of 1,545 applications had been submitted to the household registration offices, with 10 out of the first 12 reviewed applications meeting the necessary requirements. Mai and Shih were the first to complete their registration under the new system, which grants them "Plains Indigenous" status recognized at the national level.The eligibility for Siraya registration is largely based on historical precedents. Applicants or their ancestors must have been registered as plains or assimilated Indigenous peoples during the Japanese colonial period (1895-1945) and must have lived in Siraya regions at that time. If these criteria cannot be met, applicants are required to provide alternative evidence of their Indigenous Taiwanese ancestry dating back to the Japanese era.The Siraya are the first Plains Indigenous group to receive official recognition by the Taiwanese government, following the Legislature's passage of the Plains Indigenous Peoples Status Act in October 2025. During the Japanese colonial period, Plains Indigenous peoples were referred to as "assimilated indigenous peoples" and faced challenges in gaining recognition due to perceived Sinici zation. Prior to this, the Taiwanese government only officially recognized Mountain Indigenous tribes.Premier Cho Jung-tai noted in July that eight other Plains Indigenous groups have submitted recognition applications, which are currently under review by the Council of Indigenous Peoples.