Indigenous Lands, Politics & History - Indigenous Studies

Study the historical and contemporary interactions between Indigenous and non-Indigenous societies, and the cultural foundations of Indigenous life in areas such as performance, literature, politics, ecology and governance.

INDG-POST 2000Y: Politics and Indigenous Communities Focuses both on the traditional political culture of Indigenous peoples and on the political structures of colonialism (Indian Acts, Treaties, etc.) viewed from legal and historical perspectives. Contemporary analysis treats Indigenous self-government including models of development, cultural and ideological foundations, government policy, and implementation strategies. Prerequisite: INDG 1001H (or 1000Y) or both POST 1001H and 1002H (or 1000Y) or permission of instructor.
INDG-CAST-ERST-GEOG 2040Y: Canada: The Land (see Canadian Studies)
INDG-CAST-HIST 2255Y/2256H: History of the Indians of Canada (see Canadian Studies)
INDG-HIST 2305Y: Colonial Encounters Explores the multifaceted encounters that resulted from European colonialism. The focus of the course is on the lives and experiences of Indigenous peoples in Africa, Asia, the Americas, and the Pacific basin to develop a comprehensive understanding of colonialism and resistance on a global scale. Prerequisite: 1.0 university credit. Excludes INDG 4956: Special Topic: Colonial Encounters
INDG-ERST-IESS 2601Y: Introduction to Indigenous Environmental Studies Explores Indigenous worldviews, environmental philosophies, and cultural values through exposure to the perspectives of Indigenous Elders, community people, political leaders, academics, activists, and scholars. Students are introduced to Indigenous knowledge as it pertains to the natural environment. Open to first-year students.
INDG-IDST 3050Y: Indigenous and International Community Development A study of various approaches to community development in Indigenous and Third World communities. Examines current initiatives in human resource, political, and economic development, and critical issues relating to local control, values, gender, government policies, and roles in social change processes. Prerequisite: INDG 1001H (or 1000Y) or both IDST 1001H and 1002H (or 1000Y) or permission of instructor.
INDG 3113Y: Indigenous Peoples of Mexico In this 20-day summer field course, students travel to two sites in Mexico (Mexico City and Oaxaca City) to study the contemporary situation of the Indigenous peoples of Mexico. Students travel to Indigenous communities and learn about Indigenous knowledge, culture, politics (including the Zapatistas movement), the arts and environmental issues. Students pay a program fee in addition to their own travel expenses. Prerequisite: INDG 1001H (or 1000Y) or permission of the instructor. Excludes INDG 3953Y (2009-2012).
INDG-GEOG 3201H: Indigenous Peoples in Urban Centres —City as Home Explores Indigenous peoples and the contemporary urban environment using a four directions analytic framework and the metaphor of city as home. Excludes INDG 3200Y.
INDG-GEOG 3202H: Indigenous Peoples in Urban Centres —Selected Issues and Cities Explores Indigenous peoples’ issues and experiences in selected urban environments in Canada and the world. Excludes INDG 3200Y.
INDG-CAST-HIST 3335H: First Nations and the Welfare State 1940–1980 (see Canadian Studies)
INDG 3401H: Law and Indigenous Peoples: Foundations An introduction to the fundamental precepts, from both a philosophical and practical perspective, that form the foundation of Aboriginal law in Canada. The course content is taught with a balance of experiential learning exercises. Prerequisite: INDG 1001H (or 1000Y). Excludes INDG 3400Y.
INDG 3402H: Law and Indigenous Peoples: Litigating Aboriginal Rights Examines and provides experience in the challenges of litigating Aboriginal rights in Canada. In addition to an examination of the significant court cases that now define the nature and extent of Aboriginal rights, students conduct a group exercise to simulate a negotiations scenario relating to the process of defining Aboriginal rights. Prerequisite: INDG 1001H (or 1000Y). Excludes INDG 3400Y.
INDG-ERST-IESS 3631H: Issues in Indigenous Environmental Studies Examines a wide range of contemporary environmental issues, conflicts and solutions in the context of Indigenous peoples and territories. Studies examine issues at local, provincial, and national levels, highlighting the multi-dimensional perspectives of Indigenous peoples in North America. Prerequisite: One of INDG 1001H, INDG 1002H (or INDG 1000Y), IESS 1001H, INDG-ERST-IESS 2601Y, or INDG-ERST-IESS 3632H; or permission of the instructor. Excludes INDGERST 3630Y.
INDG-ERST-IESS 3632H: Global Issues in Indigenous Environmental Studies Explores the international dimensions of Indigenous Environmental Studies (IES) and examines a wide range of contemporary environmental issues, conflicts, and solutions in the context of Indigenous peoples and territories throughout the Americas and worldwide. Prerequisite: One of INDG 1001H, INDG 1002H (or INDG 1000Y), IESS 1001H, INDG-ERST-IESS 2601Y, or INDG-ERST-IESS 3631H; or permission of the instructor. Excludes INDG-ERST 3630Y.
INDG-ERSC/ERST-IESS 3730Y: Indigenous Peoples’ Health and the Environment (see Environmental & Resource Science/Studies)
INDG 3820H: America Profundo: Building InterCulture Bridges Among Indigenous Peoples in Canada, the US, and Mexico Issues related to Indigenous peoples in Canada, the US, and Mexico, with an emphasis on Mexico and Canada. Topics include Indigenous knowledge, exploration of the idea of a Mestizo/Métis nation, resistance, traditional agro-ecological practices, the spiritual ecology of community, Indigenous spirituality, urbanization, and inter-cultural encounters. Prerequisite: 5.0 university credits including 1.0 INDG, IDST, POST, or HIST credit. Excludes INDG 3950H.
INDG-CAST-HIST 4000Y/4001H: Research Seminar in Indigenous History (see Canadian Studies)
INDG-CAST 4050H: Alliances: Indigenous/NonIndigenous Relationships for Justice Allows students to investigate the value of supporting the initiatives in the Indigenous community nationally in Canada and worldwide and to find their place in that initiative. Prerequisite: 1.0 INDG credit or permission of instructor.
INDG-CAST 4051H: Transforming Settler Consciousness: Complexities, Challenges, and Possibilities The formation of alliances in support of Indigenous sovereignty requires interrupting how settler consciousness in Canada sustains itself through national narratives that both render Indigenous peoples invisible and at the same time constructs “the Other.” This course examines such narratives and efforts to interrupt them through deliberate educational interventions. Prerequisite: INDG-CAST 4050H or permission of instructor.
INDG-HIST-WMST 4205Y: Indigenous Women and Settler History in North America Explores historical representations of several Indigenous women in what is now North America. Particular attention is paid to the symbolic uses of these women and how their bodies been put into the service of settler histories. Prerequisite: INDG 1001H (or 1000Y) or 1.0 WMST credit or 1.0 HIST credit or 10.0 university credits.
INDG-HIST 4461H: Revolution, Subversion, and Power in Indigenous Latin America (see History)
INDG-ERST-IESS 4730Y: Sustainable Indigenous Communities A research colloquium course that gives students an opportunity to examine concepts of sustainability, select their own research area, and develop a model for a “sustainable” community. Provides insight into Indigenous understandings and environmental impacts, and encourages a multidisciplinary approach to resolving issues. INDG-ERSC/ERST 3730Y is highly recommended. Prerequisite: 5.0 university credits including INDG 1001H (or 1000Y), or both ERSC 1010H and 1
INDG-ANTH-IDST 4770H: Anthropology of Colonialism (see Anthropology)