Event Date: October 1, 2024 - 5:30pm to 7:00pm
Location: FSS 4007, 120 University Private, University of Ottawa

Registration: Eventbrite

The Canadian International Council, National Capital Branch, in collaboration with the Taipei Economic & Cultural Office in Canada, uOttawa Chair of Taiwan Studies, and the Centre for International Policy Studies invite you to join us at the Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS) for a unique dialogue that explores the intersection of Indigenous rights, culture, and international relations.

Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy is unique because of the prominent place accorded to Indigenous peoples. In addition to recognizing the historical depth of cross -Pacific Indigenous trade relations, it calls for deepened Indigenous relations with Taiwan, New Zealand, and Australia. What can Canada do to promote Indigenous empowerment through the Indo-Pacific Strategy? What can we learn from Taiwan’s experience?

5:30pm – Registration & Networking
6:00pm – 7:00pm – Colloquium / Q&A

Speakers:

Representative Harry Ho-jen Tseng, Taipei Economic & Cultural Office in Canada

Dr. Harry Ho-Jen Tseng is the Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Canada, a role he has held since August 2022. A seasoned diplomat and scholar, Dr. Tseng holds a Ph.D. in Government and Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia (1993), an MPA from Princeton’s School of Public and International Affairs (1991), an MA in East Asian Studies from National Chengchi University, Taiwan (1985), and a BA in Foreign Languages and Literatures from National Taiwan University (1981). Dr. Tseng has a long history of serving in high-level diplomatic positions within Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). He was Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2020 to 2022, Deputy Secretary General of the National Security Council (2016-2017), and Deputy Secretary General of the Office of the President (2016). He has also served as the Representative to the European Union and Belgium, Ambassador to Palau, Representative to Ireland, and Director General of MOFA’s Department of North American Affairs.

Professor Scott Simon, School of Sociological and Anthropological Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ottawa

Scott E. Simon, trained in both Japanese and Chinese, works in East Asian Studies. He did his Ph.D. in Anthropology at McGill University, and his postdoctoral work in Sociology at the Institute of Sociology, Academia Sinica, Taipei. Co-holder of the Chair of Taiwan Studies at the University of Ottawa, he has lived in Taiwan for over ten years and returns annually for field research. He has also done field research in Japan and Guam. His research interests include Indigenous rights, development, the contribution of Taiwan to the Indo-Pacific, Taiwan’s international status, and Canada-Taiwan relations. He has written four books and numerous articles about Taiwan. He also does policy-oriented research as member of the Centre for International Policy Studies and the Human Rights Research and Education Centre at the University of Ottawa, and as Senior Fellow at Ottawa’s Macdonald-Laurier Institute. His newest book was published by University of Toronto Press: https://utorontopress.com/9781487546014/truly-human/.

Associate Professor Robert-Falcon Ouellette, Faculty of Education, University of Ottawa (member, Red Pheasant Cree Nation, Saskatchewan and former MP for Winnipeg Centre)

Robert-Falcon Ouellette is from Red Pheasant Cree Nation in Saskatchewan. He is a dedicated community organizer, educator and anthropologist doing research in the areas of Indigenous education, military ethics and political science. He is also a 27-year veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces, where he served as a company commander in the 5th Field Ambulance. He recently helped create the new Yellowquill University College, the only Indigenous post-secondary institution in Manitoba. He has a PhD and two Master’s degrees from Laval University in Quebec City, and was only the second Indigenous person to graduate from Laval with a PhD in 350 years. He is a former Member of Parliament. During his mandate, he obtained unanimous consent to change the Standing Orders of the House of Commons for the full inclusion and interpretation of Indigenous languages. Professor Ouellette was the Chair of the Indigenous Caucus and helped lead change in Child and Family Services and languages legislation, as well as other initiatives focused on advancing reconciliation. He is a regular columnist for Espaces Autochtones on Radio-Canada. He speaks four languages and enjoys running, politics, canoeing with his family, and playing musical instruments.