Overview

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Examination of the health and health problems of Indigenous peoples from a global perspective. Comparative study of social and historical factors affecting Indigenous peoples that contribute to health conditions and health status. Efforts of Indigenous peoples to restore health to their Nations.

COURSE DETAILS:

Instructor and Contact information: Instructor: Jeff Reading Professor, Simon Fraser University and First Nations Health Authority Chair in Heart Health and Wellness at St. Paul’s Hospital and Simon Fraser University. Email: jlr6@sfu.ca

Time and Location: Lecture Schedule: Friday 2:30 – 5:20 Room: TBD   The first day of classes will be Jan 10, 2020 and the last day of classes is Apr 3, 2020. Exam on Apr 3.   TA for grading, TBD

Course description   Focuses on a critical examination of the relationships between ethics, political, social and cultural contexts including global forums for Indigenous Peoples, the impacts of colonization and its health consequences. Students will be expected to examine their own values, assumptions and motivations when engaging in international and global work particularly involving Indigenous Peoples’. The intent of the course will be to increase student’s awareness, knowledge, attitudes, skills and abilities to work sensitively within a variety of contexts. To understand the material presented students are expected to have introductory level exposure to descriptive public and population health statistics.   The classes are scheduled Friday afternoons from 2:30-5:20 and is designed for senior undergraduate students.

Schedule at a Glance 

1.         Jan10. Welcome
2.         Jan 17. Ethics
3.         Jan 24. Health Determinants
4.         Jan 31. Colonization
5.         Feb 7. Exam #1 – Friday, Feb 7 – 30% Health Systems
6.         Feb 14. Sex, Gender and Age – life stage interventions
7.         Feb 21. High Income Nations
8.         Feb 28. Low Income Nations
9.         Mar 6. Exam #2 – Friday, Mar 6 – 30% Middle Income Nations
10.        Mar 13. Circumpolar Global Health
11.        Mar 20. The WHO, UN and PAHO
12.        Mar 27. NGOs
13.        Apr 3. Summary and Interpretations
14.        Apr 9.   Final Exam – 40% Final Exam

Required texts Professor will assign readings from the public domain documents available free of charge online, through the SFU library.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

The Indigenous Peoples of Canada – the First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples – have rich and diverse histories. However, common to most is that health and wellness are understood differently through an Indigenous worldview, with a more holistic understanding which includes the inter-generational effects of colonization. Colonization is a global concern thus the course will first consider different definitions of health and illness. It will then explore the health conditions of the Indigenous peoples of Canada and in the Global context, including a comparative examination of social and historical factors that contribute to poor health conditions, as well as Indigenous initiatives to restore wellness to their Nations.

Grading

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

To be assigned by Professor