Abstract

Drawing on ethnographic research and oral histories, the article highlights how Ciulaku women play a pivotal role in preserving and transmitting collective memories of displacement. These memories, often rooted in personal and intergenerational trauma, become powerful tools of resistance, identity affirmation, and community cohesion. The findings reveal that Taiwan Indigenous People, specifically Ciulaku women, are not only the custodians of memory but also key agents in the struggle for justice. Their capacity to articulate the embodied and relational memory while advocating for the return and protection of lands showcases women agency in confronting state-led resettlement and navigating the legal and cultural complexities of land claims. Through community mobilization, protest actions, and intergenerational storytelling, these women cultivate a shared sense of purpose that extends beyond individual experiences of displacement. Ciulaku women's resilience is evident in the ways they foster solidarity, sustain cultural practices, and rebuild community ties in the face of structural marginalization. Rather than being passive victims of displacement, Ciulaku women emerge as central figures in shaping political discourse and strategies for land restitution. This study contributes to broader discussions on Indigenous resistance, ecofeminism, feminist political ecology and decolonial movements by centering Indigenous women's voices and experiences in land struggles. It also emphasizes the necessity of recognizing gendered dimensions within Indigenous movements as crucial to understanding the full scope of resistance against displacement. 

Keywords: Ecofeminism, Ciulaku women, forced displacement, resilience, women bonding and agency

How to Cite:

Lin, W., (2025) “What brought us forward: Ciulaku women and their fight for land rights in Taiwan”, Journal of Political Ecology 32(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.2458/jpe.8630