Michelle Bell, Artback NT CEO, shares her reflections on traveling to Taiwan at the end of last year. 

As 2025 wrapped up, I had the privilege of travelling to Taiwan as an invited guest of the Taiwan Council of Indigenous Peoples (CIP), attending the annual Indigenous Women’s Forum and continuing important conversations with the Taiwan Indigenous Peoples Cultural Park (TIPCP).

The visit was an opportunity not only to listen and learn alongside an extraordinary cohort of Indigenous women leaders from Taiwan and across the world, but also to deepen Artback NT’s long-standing relationship with TIPCP, a connection first forged in 2017.

The Indigenous Women’s Forum

It was inspiring to witness the pride and cultural strength that these women brought to discussions on revitalisation in the face of colonisation, displacement and intergenerational trauma.

As someone who is not Indigenous, I felt honoured to take part in these shared connections and to listen to the collective experiences held by Indigenous communities globally.

Several themes from the forum will stay with me, including the power of connection, the all-consuming and thankless fight for rightful recognition, and the importance of moments of celebration. I was also reminded of the critical need for Indigenous voices to shape policy and participation at every level.

Cultural visits across the country

The itinerary extended beyond the forum to days of cultural activities and community visits.

One of the highlights was visiting Xinlaiyi Cultural Health Station in Rinari, a newly formed settlement housing three tribes displaced by Typhoon Morakot in 2009. We were welcomed by women Elders in song, and together we made Ljakarav, traditional flower headpieces that are an important cultural practice of the region.

These activities were all grounded in extraordinary hospitality, including shared feasts that celebrated local Indigenous food practices. One dinner at Ni Camaks Kitchen was described by the chef as “watching scenery on the table,” with ingredients sourced locally to maintain cultural traditions.

Renewing partnerships and looking ahead

Following CIP-hosted activities, I spent the remainder of my time with Dremedreman Curimudjuq (Manie) from Hui Jia Creative Arts, the Taiwan Producer for Gapu Ngupan (Chasing the Rainbow). Manie coordinated meetings, provided translation support, and was immensely generous with her knowledge and time, key to making the trip a success.

These meetings included:

• A discussion with TIPCP Director General Giljegiljaw Pakedaval and his team about renewing the MOU with Artback NT and future international presentation opportunities for Gapu Ngupan
• Connecting with Sang Mei-Chuan, the first recipient of the Artist Residency Exchange Program
• A valuable conversation with acclaimed musician Suming Rupi about potential venues and timing for Gapu Ngupan in Taiwan

On my final day, I was warmly welcomed at the Office of Australia in Taipei, where I met Deputy Representative Dan Stuart (pictured) and Public Diplomacy Manager Lauren Hu. They were eager to hear about the visit and learn more about future partnership plans.

Travelling across Taiwan, from north, south, east and west, I was consistently struck by the diversity of cultures and the generosity and hospitality shared throughout my time.

This visit reaffirmed the importance of global collaboration in advancing Indigenous leadership, cultural resilience and creative exchange.

With sincere gratitude to the Taiwan Council of Indigenous Peoples, the Taiwan Indigenous Peoples Cultural Park, the Office of Australia in Taipei, and to Dremedreman Curimudjuq (Manie) and Hui Jia Creative Arts.

We look forward to the next steps in strengthening these international partnerships into 2026 and beyond.

Michelle Bell, CEO, Artback NT