The themed articles in this issue were written from papers presented at the conference of the Asia-Pacific Peace Research Association (APPRA), held in the regional coastal city of Hualien, Taiwan September 10−12, 2009. The venue was significant as the conference was hosted by the College of Indigenous Studies at National Dong Hwa University. Established in 2001, the college is the only faculty in Taiwan dedicated to both the education of Taiwan’s Aboriginal students as well as research on indigenous issues. This may well be the case for the whole of Asia-Pacific, including Australia and New Zealand, to have a stand-alone faculty dedicated to indigenous studies and research. The Dean of this college, Professor Cheng-Feng Shih has been a long-term APPRA member and is keen to share the work of his College and to foster its role as a regional centre for studies and research for and by indigenous people.