Written by Wasiq Silan. This article critiques the superficial integration of Indigenous perspectives within Taiwan’s multiculturalist policy framework, arguing for a transformative approach that prioritises Indigenous knowledge systems in long-term care policies. Highlighting the idea of “weaving knowledge,” it seeks to recentre Indigenous onto epistemologies and challenge the deep-rooted colonial present.
Written by Yulia Nesterova. Although Taiwan has made remarkable progress in transforming into a flourishing multicultural democracy over the past three decades, it still faces challenges in fully decolonising its multicultural vision. Focusing on education policies, this article highlights the need for further actions to address historical injustices and reconciliation.
Written by Yu-Chen Chuang. In 2023, Taiwanese society faced numerous instances of discrimination against Indigenous peoples. This article points out the critical need to envision an education system that not only acknowledges but actively commits to healing the wounds of settler colonialism.
Written by Zuzule Demalalade & Tien-Li Schneider. When we believe that there is power behind every object, it signifies our departure from mundane perspectives and a return to the cosmic space we share with our ancestors. As Indigenous cultural curators based in Taiwan, our involvement with the Kuroshio Odyssey: Maritime Memories, Culture, and Landscapes (hereafter KO) exhibition project began on an ordinary workday when KO’s curator, Jiun-Yu, returned from the United States to Taiwan and visited our office one afternoon. He mentioned that the Burke Museum had some collections from Taiwan’s Indigenous tribes. Together with Nikal (Margaret), a law doctoral student at the University of Washington with Amis Indigenous roots in Taiwan, they were planning an exhibition on Taiwanese Indigenous artefacts. This sparks the idea of collaboratively establishing an online platform, a digital bridge across the 14-hour time difference between Taiwan’s Indigenous artefacts and the Burke Museum’s exhibits.
Written by Sra Kacaw (Bo-Jun Chen). While planning the Kuroshio Odyssey exhibition, I had a discussion with Margaret Yun-Pu and Jiun-Yu Liu. Margaret invited Indigenous communities in Taiwan to collaborate, prompting me to search for colleagues who might accompany me. I started by pinpointing the topics we aimed to share through the exhibition. As the Kuroshio Current flows through Eastern Taiwan, what are the ethnic groups living in that area? How can we introduce the marine and material culture to the people in Seattle?
Written by Jiun-Yu Liu. Kuroshio Odyssey: Maritime Memories, Culture, and Landscapes (follows as KO) is a mini exhibition held at the Burke Museum in Washington State, USA (Oct 14 – Nov 28). KO focuses on two key themes: the diverse Indigenous cultures and the stunning natural landscapes in eastern Taiwan. As a multi-media exhibition, KO showcases material collections from multiple Indigenous communities in eastern Taiwan and includes an immersive element as visitors can access QR codes that provide images and detailed information about the selected pieces. In addition to the onsite exhibition, two Indigenous Taiwanese guest curators working in Taiwan and New Zealand have chosen wonderful artefacts from the Indigenous Peoples Cultural Development Center collection and converted them into an online exhibition to echo and enrich the KO exhibition content.
