Director’s Note

Tabe, Mariyang!

 

Welcome to the Center for International Indigenous Affairs (CIIA)!  As Director of the center, I have the privilege of working with hundreds of talented instructors and thousands of talented students from across the university.  More importantly, I also have the privilege to work with indigenous scholars from around the world.

With the fourfold aim of mobilizing Taiwan’s participation in global indigenous communities, promoting indigenous issues in the mainstream society, establishing an interactive platform for indigenous peoples to speak out, and training indigenous talents for international communication, the Center has been devoted to pushing forward Taiwan’s higher education around the world through various forms of academic activities since it was founded in August 2014 under the guidance of the College of Indigenous Studies at National Dong Hwa University.

The CIIA has taken on many projects. One of our recent highlighted project is ‘Taiwan-Aotearoa Connection: South-bound Indigenous Education’ project. In addition, the CIIA has built connections academically with universities in Guam, Japan, United States, Canada, New Zealand, and Austria.  We are connected through a range of events from both academic and executive dimensions. Inspired by how indigenous higher education institution restored indigenous subjectivity and values, we hope to build mutually beneficial partnership with indigenous institution around the world o further Indigenous history, cultures and languages as well as training talents in indigenous higher education.

Impact and contribution of how indigenous education made in the historical process of reconciliation is very important for us, as human being, to learn and share. Together we continue the legacy of our ancestors’ knowledge and values.

Please feel free to contact me directly or any of our team members if you have any concerns, questions, or feedback about us. We are here to make connection.

Mahanru!

 

Jolan Hsieh

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

Director, Center for International Indigenous Affairs

Professor, Department of Ethnic Studies