Fall 2021 - REM 407 D100

Indigenous Governance and Resource Relationships (4)

Class Number: 7584

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 8 – Dec 7, 2021: Tue, Thu, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    One of REM 207, ARCH 286, or any INDG course; and 75 units.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Explores diverse Indigenous perspectives on governance, resource, land and water management, intergovernmental relations and economic development in the context of contemporary settler colonialism in Canada. Skills include critical thinking, anti-colonial, economic, political and policy analyses. Students with credit for PLAN 407 may not take this course for further credit.

COURSE DETAILS:

Course Objective:
This course examines a variety of Indigenous perspectives, priorities and complications with respect to governance and resource, land, and water management in British Columbia. We begin with an exploration of Indigenous worldviews, values and principles, especially as they relate to “resources,” and matters of kinship, responsibility, respect, and reciprocity. We will then seek to understand intergovernmental relations within the context of settler colonialism and neoliberal capitalism. Students will receive an introduction into the complex issues and difficult decisions faced by Indigenous peoples, including diversity and divergence of values and principles, economic and community development pressures, poverty, settler colonialism and the ongoing struggles for Indigenous self-determination.

This course will include theoretical foundations of Indigenous worldviews, settler colonialism, neoliberal capitalism and Indigenous self-determination, as well as an examination of several case studies, primarily from British Columbia. Students will be encouraged to critically analyze contemporary resource management/relationship issues from Indigenous, anti-colonial, and anti-capitalist perspectives. As many REM students go on to work on these issues directly after graduation, here they will be exposed to them here from the positions of empathy and solidarity.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

By the end of the course students will have gained and understanding of:

  1. Various Indigenous perspectives on resource and environmental management issues in BC.
  2. Indigenous governance institutions, community priorities and complications.
  3. Critical thinking skills, especially from Indigenous, anti-colonial and anti-capitalist perspectives.
  4. Cultivating and nurturing empathy, solidarity and allyship with Indigenous communities with respect to their struggles for self-determination and resource relationships.

Grading

  • Participation/Presentation 20%
  • Short Writing Assignments 35%
  • Final Paper 45%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Required Readings will be available online (Canvas), or through the library.

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 2021

Teaching at SFU in fall 2021 will involve primarily in-person instruction, with approximately 70 to 80 per cent of classes in person/on campus, with safety plans in place.  Whether your course will be in-person or through remote methods will be clearly identified in the schedule of classes.  You will also know at enrollment whether remote course components will be “live” (synchronous) or at your own pace (asynchronous).

Enrolling in a course acknowledges that you are able to attend in whatever format is required.  You should not enroll in a course that is in-person if you are not able to return to campus, and should be aware 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.

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who may need class or exam accommodations, including in the context of remote learning, are advised to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112) as early as possible in order to prepare for the fall 2021 term.