Aotearoa New Zealand's Waitangi Day

The Center for International Indigenous Affairs（CIIA） of the College of Indigenous Studies at the National Dong Hwa University recently announced the award winners of the "Fu-mei Wu Memorial Scholarship'. The scholarship commemorates Mrs. Fu-Mei Wu's long-term support and care for the rights of Indigenous People's self-determination and international participation. Her friends and family were instrumental in planning and contributing to the scholarship fund.

Group photo was taken at the University of Auckland's Waipapa Marae.（Photo from left to right Ciwas Bawan, Pisuy Bawnay, Ciwang Teyra, and Yi-Jen Tu）

The "Fu-Mei Wu Memorial Scholarship" was established to encourage colleges and universities across the country to actively participate in indigenous affairs during the school period. To promote and exchange indigenous cultures with learning from different values and to cultivate indigenous talents.

Many individuals and teams responded to this year's call for submissions. After deliberation and comprehensive evaluation, the review meeting of the CIIA unanimously agreed to award two groups as award winners. One for the 2019 scholarship and the other for this year's 2020 scholarship.

The 2019 scholarship was awarded to Yi-Jen TU（杜宜蓁）and Pisuy Bawnay who were two members of the "Tino Rangatiratanga - Journey of Self Determination and Sovereignty" team. The team will receive a joint grant of NT60,000 and each participant will receive a certificate.

Yi-Jen is of the Ketagalan Peoples. She graduated with her Master's degree from the Department of Indigenous Affairs and Development of the NDHU. Pisuy Bawnay is from Atayal Nation. Pisuy is a PhD student in the Department of Ethnic Relations and Cultural at the NDHU.

Yi-Jen and Pisuy submitted a report on their journey to Aotearoa New Zealand at the beginning of this year which provided them with a wonderful learning and enriching experience. Yi-Jen witnessed that only full participation of cultural practice can resonate with a cultural movement. More notably, how important it is to communicate with each other with shared values and ideas. Also, we need more people to pay attention to the historical thrum of Indigenous Peoples and to work towards transitional justice. Pisuy, during her Aotearoa New Zealand visit also learned multiple aspects of the development of Māoridom, especially Māori culture within education.

The 2020 scholarship is being pre-awarded to a team of college students who are planning to visit the Philippines to participate in field-work study during the summer break. An achievement report will be required of them to receive their scholarship grants and certificates.

On behalf of the review committee, CIIA Director Bavaragh Dagalomai（Jolan HSIEH, 謝若蘭）acknowledged that the two winning groups had shown specific implementation plans and goals and that their activities fit perfectly within the purpose and guidelines of the CIIA and Fu-mei Wu Memorial Scholarship patrons.

For more scholarship information, please refer to the website of CIIA.

Yi-Jen Tu and Pisuy Bawnay expressed their appreciation to Dr. Linda Waimarie Nikora support and encouragement. Dr. Nikora is Prof. at the University of Auckland

Yi-Jen Tu Pisuy Bawnay visited New Zealand Human Right Commission's Auckland Office.（Photo from left to right Prof. Linda Waimarie Nikora, Prof. Ciwang Teyra, Pisuy Bawnay, and Yi-Jen TU）