Upcoming Events
2026 UNPFII Series: The Path to Healing Beyond Conflict for Indigenous Peoples in Taiwan
2026 UNPFII Series: The Path to Healing Beyond Conflict for Indigenous Peoples in Taiwan
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 build holistic models of well-being through institutional frameworks, community mutual support, and traditional knowledge, including food systems and cultural practices.
PAFATIS is co-organizing an official UNPFII side event in New York in partnership with Habitat Pro Association, Hualien County Association of the Promotion of Indigenous Affairs, Senary Leaf, TAANY, and FAPA NY Metro Chapter. We are also hosting/ co-hosting a series of related events in both New York and Seattle. These events foreground the knowledge, innovations, and practices of Taiwan’s Indigenous Peoples. In these events, speakers representing Pangcah (Amis), Atayal, and Paiwan will illustrate pathways to healing, resilience, and self-determination beyond conflict.
April 16, 10:30-12:20 pm @ Burke Museum (East Classroom), UW Campus, SeattleGuest 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.
April 16, 2-5 pm @ Burke Museum (Museum), UW Campus, SeattleAmis (Pangcah) Traditional Weaving Technique Adaptation: Bamboo WeavingA hands-on workshop exploring Amis bamboo weaving as a living tradition of cultural knowledge, ecological practice, and community resilience.
April 19, 2-4 pm @ Playwrights Downtown, New York (Room 3B)UNPFII周邊講座 | 臺灣原住民族穿越衝突的療癒之路呼應本屆常設論壇的主題，透過臺灣原住民族代表從人權機構運作、社區實踐（紫絲帶防護網等）到飲食傳統智慧切入，分享臺灣原住民族在健康自主與文化復振的經驗。RSVP
April 23, 1-3 pm @ Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO), New YorkUNPFII Side Event | Healing Beyond Conflict – Pathways to Wholistic Health for Indigenous Peoples in TaiwanAn official UNPFII side event, in English, exploring how Indigenous health, healing, and well-being are embedded in community practices, knowledge systems, and legal frameworks.
Specifically, we aim to echo the Forum’s theme through these three perspectives:
Systemic protection: Through sharing experience managing national human rights organizations and advocacy, we will explore the importance of eradicating systemic discrimination.
Community work: We will share how indigenous health theories collaborate with communities, as well as how the anti-violence Purple Ribbon movement promotes communal healing.
Traditional food wisdom: Through introducing how Indigenous Peoples have passed down generations of food choices, cooking methods, and eating customs, we will explore ways to co-exist with nature, promote sustainability, and build wholistic mind-body health.
April 25, 2-4 pm @ Cultural Center of TECO in Seattle (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
Regular Programs
-
In each episode, we invite guests with deep understanding of issues Indigenous Peoples face. We talk to members of tribal communities, academics, cultural workers, activities, and others whose lives are deeply intertwined with these issues. From language revitalization, traditional territory, cultural preservation, to daily life in tribal communities, we hope to explore the deeper context behind these issues. We hope these conversations would help our audience realize— “ah, this is how it is.”
-
We continue to build community partnerships to help delegates attend the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
-
We continue to build trusting, collaborative relationship with Indigenous Peoples of North America and Pacific Islands. We also collaborate with local organizations in Seattle to organize advocacy and educational events.
Past Events
Thank you all for joining us on November 8, 2026 for Tasting the Land, co-hosted by the #PAFATIS and #GreenShower. The event was a wonderful success!
Our speaker, Oscar, drew on his experience with the Indigenous Wild Vegetable Center from Hualien to introduce the concept of Indigenous food sovereignty. He shared the importance of supporting local food systems, understanding where our food comes from, and practicing ways of living in harmony with nature.
RC Lai, a former interpreter with The Society of Wilderness in Taiwan and now co-founder of #GreenShower in Seattle, guided participants through an exploration of the connections between Taiwan and Washington State in terms of climate, ecology, and plant diversity.
We also enjoyed light Native-led Seattle local food from a local restaurant in Seattle. During the closing Q&A, the discussion turned to the story of frybread and the colonial context that shaped it into a staple food among many Native communities in North America.
From land and community to the dining table, Indigenous ecological knowledge and cultural narratives are deeply intertwined. We will continue learning and sharing stories with you. Thank you again for supporting the first collaborative event between #PAFATIS and #GreenShower. We look forward to growing and creating more opportunities together in the future.
In August 2025, we attended the Seattle Taiwanese Picnic Music Festival. On stage, we were transported to different eras through music of different languages and times. We also experienced different cultures, including the Bunun “Clapping Song” performed by Keystone Hummingbirds Children Choir, and the song “Happy Drinking Song” by Suming, a traditional song of the Pancgah (Amis) People.
Thank you for stopping by and chatting with us and playing the games we’ve prepared. THrough these interactions, we’ve all gotten to know the issues Taiwan Indigenous Peoples face a little bit more.
Thank you for your encouragement. Through our conversations, we imagined collaboration crashing, merging, and revitalizing, like waves.
Seattle Taiwanese Picnic Music Festival
