Fall 2020 - INDG 322 E100

Special Topics in Indigenous Studies

The Indigenous City

Class Number: 8203

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 9 – Dec 8, 2020: Mon, 5:30–9:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    Will vary according to the topic.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Variable units: 3, 4, 5.

COURSE DETAILS:

Indigenous City: Story, teachings, and practise in decolonizing the city

Every North American city is situated on Indigenous lands, but that fact is written out of the story, governance system, and built form of cities. Focusing on the Vancouver region, this course will explore the ongoing impacts of colonialism and the movement to decolonize.

Course Details

With its roots in western colonial systems, urban planning and ways of living on the land in North American have been part of the colonial project of clearing and claiming Indigenous lands and imposing eurocentric systems and ways of living. Most North American cities were built upon the erasure of the pre-existing Indigenous societies--and their laws, governance, knowledge systems, languages, cultural practices, etc. We are living with the consequences of erasure and mistreatment of the lands and waters. 

In recent years, Vancouver has made many commitments to reconciliation, including formally acknowledging that the City was built on unceded Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh lands. How can such declarations translate into decolonizing policies and approaches? This class will critically examine the assumptions, narratives, and colonial relations entrenched into the city, and listen to other voices, knowledges, and experiences within the overall movement to decolonize urban planning. Indigenous people’s perspectives on community, land use, governance, etc. will form the foundation of this inquiry, as we analyze urban planning and practice within the Metro Vancouver context. 


Course timing and format

We will meet online from 6:00-9:20 p.m. on Mondays, using both Zoom and Canvas (inc. Blackboard Collaborate).
*Please note this variation in start time from what is given in goSFU.ca.

Grading

  • Participation and attendance (for those less comfortable speaking in a group setting, there will be other ways to engage) 10%
  • Story of Place/Self-location 20%
  • Analyze/decolonize 30%
  • Self-determined project 40%

NOTES:

Prerequisite: 60 units (no exceptions).

This course is cross-listed with URB 695 (4) G100.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

There is no textbook for this course.

Various sources, including City plans and reports, video, poetry, song, heritage texts, tourism brochures, articles (from Indigenous authors), and the like will be used throughout the course.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

TEACHING AT SFU IN FALL 2020

Teaching at SFU in fall 2020 will be conducted primarily through remote methods. There will be in-person course components in a few exceptional cases where this is fundamental to the educational goals of the course. Such course components will be clearly identified at registration, as will course components that will be “live” (synchronous) vs. at your own pace (asynchronous). Enrollment acknowledges that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes. To ensure you can access all course materials, we recommend you have access to a computer with a microphone and camera, and the internet. In some cases your instructor may use Zoom or other means requiring a camera and microphone to invigilate exams. If proctoring software will be used, this will be confirmed in the first week of class.

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need class or exam accommodations, including in the current context of remote learning, are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112).