【Campus News Reporter Yu-Hsuan Kuo】

The Indigenous Student Resource Center of National Chengchi University (NCCU) and Shih Hsin University co-hosted the lecture “Creating Spaces for Dialogue with Contemporary Society Through Self-Media” on December 8 in Classroom 203 of the General Building. Speakers included Assistant Professor Ciwang Teyra from NTU’s Department of Social Work, Podcast “Dear Han People” hosts Bali Nangavulan (Chin Hao-Cheng) and Yawi Nuqayux, NTU social work student Lahok Ciwko, and NCCU social work graduate student Ibi Takiludun (Kao Yüeh-Han). They shared their personal journeys in shaping urban Indigenous identity.

Ciwang Teyra opened with a talk titled “Discrimination and ‘Microaggressions’ Faced by Indigenous Youth,” using the concept of microaggressions to describe the everyday challenges faced by Indigenous peoples. He explained that the full term should be “subtle discrimination,” emphasizing types of discrimination that are often overlooked or normalized.

For instance, urban Indigenous students often face skepticism over affirmative action policies during their academic journeys. However, Ciwang argued that such policies should not be viewed merely as resource allocation, but rather through the historical context of systemic injustices toward Indigenous peoples. He called on the public to recognize and reflect on these subtle forms of discrimination, rather than immediately defending their intent when someone feels uncomfortable.

Ibi Takiludun then recounted his long journey of discovering his identity. Born to a Minnanese father and an Indigenous mother, he never considered his Indigenous identity until officially registering under his mother’s name at age 15. After gaining admission to a prestigious high school through affirmative action, he faced various difficulties and emotional struggles. Classmates were curious about Indigenous topics, but his lack of cultural experience left him unsure how to respond.

“In college, I constantly questioned whether I was entitled to hold a spot designated for Indigenous students.” While studying social work at NTU, Ibi never applied for Indigenous resources, feeling disconnected from the community. He even joined and later withdrew from Indigenous clubs due to feeling out of place. Trapped between Han and Indigenous identities, he often felt lost—until 2018, when he visited his mother’s tribe and found relatives who warmly welcomed him. “At that moment, I realized that I could still return.”

“It took me 15 years to move from having no Indigenous identity to being able to say ‘I am Indigenous.’” Today, Ibi works at the Indigenous Student Resource Center of National Taipei University of Business, hoping to support students struggling with similar identity dilemmas.

“Difference is not the problem—ignoring difference is.” Bali Nangavulan and Yawi Nuqayux shared their personal growth experiences and the concept behind their podcast “Dear Han People.” Inspired by the film *Dear White People*, their channel has been running for over a year, exploring Indigenous topics with nine episodes released. Their Instagram regularly features commentary on current events, aiming to raise awareness and dialogue. Yawi emphasized the importance of self-reflection, asking: “Who have we overlooked? What have we ignored?”

Yawi also observed that both Indigenous and Han individuals tend to create rigid standards of what an Indigenous person “should” be. He has faced judgment and self-doubt, which led him to question: “Why should others get to define whether or not you are Indigenous?” This question is at the heart of their message, reflected in a quote from singer Leslie Cheung’s song *Me*: “No need to hide—live the life I love.”

Finally, Lahok Ciwko delivered a talk titled “Living Well Is Not Easy,” reflecting on his own identity struggles during college. He described living under a constant “curse of not being enough,” echoing Yawi’s comment on people applying stereotypes to judge authenticity. Joining NTU’s Indigenous music club helped him realize that what he once blamed on his own inadequacies was often societal pressure and misunderstanding. He stressed the importance of rejecting the notion that “identity” itself is a problem, saying: “It’s not that you failed to become yourself—it’s that the environment isn’t supportive enough to let you be you.”

Lahok also noted that in today’s age of rapid digital communication, interaction is inevitable. What matters is not conforming to a “correct” identity but recognizing the strengths in your unique background. He hopes everyone can share their stories in an atmosphere of trust, broadening the collective understanding of identity.

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Original Article (Chinese): NCCU Campus News