Dr. Margaret Yun-Pu Tu (Nikal Kabala’an) centers her research and teaching around her community, the Indigenous peoples in Taiwan, seeking to answer questions surrounding Indigenous sovereignty as it relates to a global landscape of legal, social and technological change. That effort is now a part of UW curriculum with Tu’s newly developed course, Indigenous Taiwan and Pacific Connections: Law, Culture, and Literature.
About the course
Jointly offered by the Jackson School of International Studies (JSIS) and Law, Societies, and Justice (LSJ), the course educates students about Indigenous Taiwan through various forms of literature (music, poetry, fiction), living culture and legal frameworks, drawing comparisons between Indigenous communities in Oceania and the U.S. Students build connections across topics including land rights, language revitalization, legal challenges, and storytelling as resistance. First taught in spring 2026, the course is scheduled to return in winter 2027.
“Teaching this course allowed me to share Taiwan Indigenous histories, cultures, literatures, and contemporary issues with students while continuing to learn alongside them. For me, that integration of research, community engagement, and teaching is perhaps the most meaningful milestone of my time at UW,” said Tu.
A commitment to interdisciplinary studies
Tu has a history of making connections across disciplines that began long before her teaching career. Tu co-founded the Pacific Alliance For Autonomous Traditions, Indigenous Sovereignty (PAFATIS), a nonprofit organization which in recent years has coordinated with the UW Taiwan Studies Arts and Culture Program to execute educational and cultural programming. While a doctoral candidate in law in 2023 Tu also co-curated the Burke Museum exhibit Kuroshio Odyssey: Maritime Memories, Culture, and Landscapes with former Taiwan Studies Program (TSP) member Dr. Jiun-Yu Liu.
“I was able to bring together what I learned through UW TSP, my curatorial work, and my doctoral research into [my] new course,” said Tu, citing Professor James Lin’s graduate seminar, Making Modern Taiwan, and the Arts and Culture Program led by Director Ellen Chang as vital to her academic and professional growth. “As an Indigenous Taiwanese student studying far from home, UW TSP has shaped who I am today and provided meaningful support throughout my journey at UW,” she added.
