In Conversation with Dr. Paelabang Danapan

Overview

Join a special seminar on Taiwanese Indigenous literature and culture.

Dr. Paelabang Danapan will explore the rich history of Taiwanese Indigenous Peoples. The discussion will examine the significance of both written and spoken Indigenous languages, examining how these forms of expression have shaped and preserved their stories, traditions, and identities. By analysing the role of language in literature, Dr. Danapan will emphasise the power of Indigenous narratives in both oral and written forms, shedding light on their contributions to Taiwan's cultural landscape and the broader world of literature.

About Dr. Paelabang Danapan

Born in 1953 and a member of the Puyuma Tribe, Dr. Paelabang Danapan holds a master's degree in Sinology from KU Leuven in Belgium. He has taught at several universities, including Soochow University and National Taiwan University, and served as Director of both the Institute of Ethnic Development and the Department of Indigenous Languages and Communication at National Dong Hwa University. In 2009, he was appointed Minister of the Council of Indigenous Peoples and later served as a Senior Adviser to the President of Taiwan.

In 1993, Dr. Paelabang founded Mountain Sea Culture Magazine, the first publication in Taiwan dedicated to Indigenous literature and culture. In 1995, the magazine launched the Mountain Sea Literature Awards—the first literary prize in Taiwan specifically for Indigenous writers.