人類的歷史中經常要面對變動和衝突，這些衝突可能來自於自然環境、來自於社會人群之間、或來自於人群對資源的利用競爭，而如何在衝突後和解，透過制度的安排達成互惠、共享，正是高貴情操與智慧的展現。所謂的永續，並非一成不變即可達成，而是需要有在面對變動的同時，能夠調整自己、度過挑戰，維持功能、延續生存發展的韌性。南島民族在全世界分布最廣，不斷遷徙移動的過程中，即必須時常調整適應，在物種與物種、物種與棲地之間所串連起來的動態關係網絡中，尋求最適的安身立命方式，而累積出豐富的經驗知識與做判斷的智慧。

        本次南島國際會議以「從和解共生到永續家園：連結南島民族的社會生態智慧」為題，所要揭櫫的，有三個層面的意義：第一，家園是物質關係、社會關係、信仰價值系統的整合，和解的努力就是為了建立一個可以讓所有人安身立命的家園，這樣的家園必須是能夠面對變化挑戰而具有韌性的；因此，我們要追求的和解，不只是人與人、族群與族群的和解，也包含人和土地的和解；第二，台灣的原住民族和土地的長期互動，累積了豐富的韌性知識，在一次一次與人群、與大地和解的經驗中，展現了深層的智慧，讓原住民族的智慧成為未來台灣家園的發展共識，將是台灣整體社會的共同利益；第三，藉由南島民族之間社會生態知識的對話，是使台灣與更廣大的南島民族家庭，建立更穩固之瞭解與支持網絡的基礎，也將在區域間促成進一步的合作與連結。

        基於以上主旨，本次會議將邀集國內外南島民族意見領袖、社區人士、相關政府部門代表與專家學者，進行對話與交流，會議子題包括：【國家向原住民族道歉及後續行動的國際經驗】、【土地爭議協商解決與資源共同治理的機制】、【傳統領袖、國家政治及區域對話平台的建立】、【歷史詮釋、語言復振及南島文化資產認定與保存】，【部落經濟、市場機制及跨國貿易協定】、【人口結構變遷、社會支持系統與災害管理】，期盼透過這些子題的探討，分享南島民族的社會生態知識與智慧，並促進多元關係之共存共榮的實踐。

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       Human confronted with changes and conflicts constantly in history; these conflicts may derive from the natural environment change, the social transition or competition of resource utilization. Nevertheless, we also see cases that peoples reconciled after conflicts, achieved mutually-beneficial arrangement with their wisdom. Sustainability cannot be attained without change. Instead, it requires resilience to adapt to the change, maintain the function and survive the challenges. Widely dispersed in the Pacific, Austronesian peoples constantly adapted to survive in the network of species and habitats, and gain fruitful experience, knowledge and wisdom of reconciliation during the process of migration.
        The theme of 2016 International Austronesian Conference “Reconciliation, Coexistence, and Sustainability: Articulating the Social-Ecological Wisdom of Austronesian Family” is meaningful in three aspects: First of all, a homeland is the result of the integration of material relations, social relations, and cosmology. The purpose of reconciliation is to build a homeland of dwelling. Therefore, there should be constant actions taken to reconcile the relations not just between people and people, but also between people and the land. Secondly, indigenous peoples have long history interacting with the land. The indigenous knowledge of social ecological resilience and wisdom of reconciliation can enrich the imagination for the future development of Taiwan. Thirdly, by sharing and exchanging the social ecological knowledge, Taiwan and other members in the Austronesian family can achieve deeper understanding and establish stronger supportive network to foster further collaboration.
        Based on the aims described above, the conference will invite Austronesian community leaders, scholars and government officials to initiate the dialogue. The conference topics include:
“The International Experience of State’s Apologizing to Indigenous Peoples and Subsequent Actions”
“Mechanism for the Settlement of Land Conflicts and Natural Resources Co-governance”
“Traditional Leaders, State Politics and the Establishment of Platform for Regional Dialogue”
“Community Economy, Market System and Transnational Trade Agreement”
“The Demographical change, Social Supporting System, and Health Management”