0544 - Introduction to Indigenous Matters

Course Description

This course provides learners with a brief overview of the discipline of Indigenous Studies including the history, culture and experiences of Indigenous peoples of North America. The course modules will examine Indigenous peoples’ existence prior to contact, during the point of early contact as well as examining contemporary issues and experiences.  

As participants, you will leave with:

• Explore the land of “Turtle Island” (North America) prior to contact
• Explore your position (individual, racial, cultural, national, professional, spiritual) in colonial history.
• Discuss and analyse the effects of Columbus and other early colonizers’ assumptions about Indigenous peoples and how this has supported genocide in North America
• Examine the early agreements that lead to the creation of Canada and the Indian Act
• Analyse the Indian Act and assess the effects this has on Indigenous communities
• Examine the cross-sectionality that Indigenous women and children experience while being a part of oppressed populations
• Examine common misconceptions about Indigenous peoples, communities and their experiences through “myth busting”
• Experience an opportunity to hold space for Indigenous resiliency

Course Outline

Lesson 1 - Indigenous People of Turtle Island: Who’s land are we on?

Lesson 2 - Early Colonial Contact: Columbus’ and other early colonizers

Lesson 3 - Canada’s home on Native Land RCMP

Lesson 4 - The Indian Act: Laws to govern Indigenous Peoples and their land

Lesson 5 - Indigenous Women and Children: Addressing Historical Trauma and on-going Oppression

Lesson 6 - On-going Colonization in Canada: Myth busting and re-educating settlers about Indigenous realities

Lesson 7 - Indigenous Peoples Sovereignty and Rights in North America

Lesson 8 - Indigenous Peoples Resiliency: Indigenous Peoples solutions

Learner Outcomes

Participants will leave with:

• An increased understanding of Indigenous matters, specifically land, language, identity and community structure
• A transformative and participatory learning experience about Canada’s involvement in the colonization of Indigenous peoples
• More knowledge, tools and resources to utilize in your community, professional, and land relations regarding Indigenous matters
• A increased understanding of historical traumas
• An increased understanding of Indigenous sovereignty and rights
• A desire to continue learning about your position in allyship regarding Indigenous matters

Notes

This course was developed with the hopes that settlers and Indigenous people alike would have access to a brief introduction on Indigenous matters.

For more information or questions please contact ctravers@wlu.ca .

Recommendations

One important act of allyship you can participate in after this course would be to continue to do your own research on Indigenous matters. Continual self-education on this matter will bring compassion and understanding to interactions and relationships with Indigenous peoples.