Please join us for the Seattle edition of the 2026 UNPFII Series, The Path to Healing Beyond Conflict for Indigenous Peoples in Taiwan, on April 17 and April 25, 2026.
The 2026 United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) is themed “Ensuring Indigenous Peoples’ health, including in the context of conflict.” The Forum explores how Indigenous Peoples cultivate holistic models of well-being through institutional frameworks, community-based mutual support, and traditional knowledge, including food systems and cultural practices.
In parallel with the UNPFII events in New York, the Seattle edition foregrounds the knowledge, innovations, and practices of Taiwan’s Indigenous Peoples. Speakers representing Pangcah (Amis), Atayal, and Paiwan communities will share pathways toward healing, resilience, and self-determination beyond conflict.
April 16, 10:30-12:20 pm @ Burke Museum (East Classroom)
Guest Lecture within Indigenous Taiwan and the Pacific (JSIS A 480)
This guest lecture focuses on how patterns, materials, and techniques reflect Indigenous understandings of wholistic health, community healing, and conflict resistance.
Free and open to the public; walk-ins welcome
April 16, 2-5 pm @ Burke Museum (Museum)
Amis (Pangcah) Traditional Weaving Technique Adaptation: Bamboo Weaving
A hands-on workshop exploring Amis bamboo weaving as a living tradition of cultural knowledge, ecological practice, and community resilience.
Free and open to the public; walk-ins welcome
April 25, 2-4 pm @ Cultural Center of TECO in Seattle, Bellevue (僑教中心)
UNPFII Side Lecture | The Path of Healing Beyond Conflict for Indigenous Peoples in Taiwan
A concluding session that brings together experiences from Taiwan’s Indigenous communities and fosters dialogue on transnational connections and shared healing practices.
Speakers will share in Mandarin. Interpretation to English will be provided.
RSVP: https://tinyurl.com/pafatis0425
Speakers
Sra Kacaw is Chairperson of the Hualien County Indigenous Public Affairs Promotion Association and co-founder of the Pacific Alliance for Autonomous Traditions, Indigenous Sovereignty (PAFATIS) in the U.S. West, which was officially recognized and registered as an overseas compatriot organization by the Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC) in 2025. His work focuses on reconstructing the cultural identity of the Cikasuan (Amis) people. In addition to advancing language revitalization and traditional craftsmanship—such as feather headdress (war bonnet) techniques—he has played a key role in historical justice efforts. He led the successful designation of the “Japanese Invasion of Cikasuan Battle” as a national cultural heritage site, transforming a site of trauma into an educational “Cultural Path.” His work has gained international recognition, including invitations to the University of Tokyo (2024) and research in Hokkaido (2026). Through “cross-island” cultural dialogue, Sra continues to advance Indigenous resilience and self-determination.
Dungi Lunip is an Amis Cikasuan cultural practitioner and social advocate specializing in community empowerment and “Cultural Safety.” She is the founder of the Alupalan Dyeing Workshop and serves as a project manager in Tribal Health Promotion. Through her work, she uses traditional persimmon dyeing to foster economic resilience and strengthen collective identity among women and youth. With extensive experience in Community Health Promotion, she integrates Traditional Ecological Knowledge into care systems to support intergenerational networks. Her commitment to community safety and social resilience has been recognized with the national Purple Ribbon Community Certification from Taiwan’s Ministry of the Interior.
Yayut･Ratang is an Atayal advocate and certified social worker specializing in the intersection of social welfare and Indigenous food culture. As Executive Secretary of the Taiwan Indigenous Slow Food Women’s Organization, she leads initiatives to preserve traditional knowledge and advance food sovereignty. A frequent participant in international platforms such as Terra Madre (Italy), she emphasizes the central role of food in Indigenous rights and identity. Her work focuses on empowering tribal women to lead efforts in biodiversity conservation and sustainable development, transforming traditional culinary heritage into a dynamic force for community resilience.
Oscar (Hao-Kuei Wang) is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Victoria. He is a researcher and educator specializing in Indigenous education and historical justice. He has served as a research assistant for Taiwan’s Presidential Office Indigenous Historical Justice and Transitional Justice Committee (IHJTJC) and as an educator at the Hualien Indigenous Wild Vegetable Center. His work focuses on food sovereignty, Amis traditional botanical knowledge, and land-based education. Grounded in Indigenous Holism, his current research explores ways to revitalize the relationships between community, land, and ecological well-being for future generations.
Ljavaus Tjauquculj is Paiwan and grew up in a multicultural family of both Paiwan and Han heritage. Her mixed background has shaped her reflections on identity and belonging. She currently works as a specialist at Taiwan’s National Human Rights Commission, where she focuses on Indigenous human rights issues.