Director’s Notes

It is with great enthusiasm that I greet you in my Siraya language. As the Director of the Center for International Indigenous Affairs (CIIA), I acknowledge that we are working on the ancestral homelands of the Pangcah/Amis Nation. I am honored to collaborate with exceptional scholars and talented students from universities across Taiwan, as well as with Indigenous scholars from around the globe.

CIIA is committed to four key objectives: mobilizing Taiwan’s participation in global Indigenous communities, promoting Indigenous issues within mainstream society, establishing a platform for Indigenous voices, and training Indigenous talents for international dialogue. Since its founding in August 2014 under the auspices of the College of Indigenous Studies at National Dong Hwa University, CIIA has actively advanced Taiwan’s higher education through diverse academic initiatives.

We have developed academic connections with universities worldwide, including those in Japan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Guam, Hawaii, Alaska, the continental United States, Canada, Aotearoa New Zealand, Austria, and Sápmi (Norway and Finland), among others. Inspired by the restoration of Indigenous subjectivities and values within higher education, we seek to build mutually beneficial partnerships with Indigenous institutions globally, emphasizing Indigenous history, cultures, and languages while training future leaders.

The impact of Indigenous education in the historical process of reconciliation is crucial for our collective learning and sharing. Together, we can continue the legacy of our ancestors’ knowledge and values.

Please feel free to reach out to me directly at jolan@gms.ndhu.edu.tw with any questions, concerns, or feedback. We are here to foster connections. Lalulux!


Jolan Hsieh

Jolan Hsieh / Bavaragh Dagalomai, Ph.D  (Siraya Nation)

Director, Center for International Indigenous Affairs

Professor, Department of Ethnic Studies