Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2021 - CRIM 429 D100

Indigenous Peoples and International Law (3)

Class Number: 3453

Delivery Method: Remote

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 11 – Apr 16, 2021: Tue, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    CRIM 101 or FNST 101 or 201 or permission of instructor.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An examination of how relations between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples framed and were framed by the development of international law from the 15th century onward. Students with credit for CRIM 416, or 418 under the title "Indigenous Peoples and International Law" or "Indigenous Peoples and Evolving International Relations", or FNST 429 may not take this course for further credit.

COURSE DETAILS:

This primarily discussion-oriented seminar course will examine how relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples framed much of the development of international law from the 15th century onward, and how the nature of that relationship changed through ages of exploration, colonization, and rights recognition. The three main sections of the course are organized around the following themes: (1) the earliest relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples during “the age of exploration” in which the early European nation states set forth to explore and colonize the world; (2) the role that Indigenous peoples of North America, and especially the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, played in the development of international law; and (3) the 20th century  transition that has seen Indigenous Peoples transform themselves from being “objects” of law (i.e., entities about which law is made) to become participants in the development of international law.

Students will play an active role in shaping the scope of our collective examination of those relationships; the term projects you engage in will provide individual stories as well as a collective global snapshot of Indigenous peoples and their historical and contemporary relationships with nation state governments.

The course will be offered synchronously for what in most weeks will be two hours (with the third hour typically spent watching course-related videos that we would otherwise be watching together in class). The last month will see student and instructor presentations over Zoom, so students should have the technological capacity to do so.

Grading

  • Take-home midterm (10-page paper) 25%
  • Term Research Project on an Indigenous People: Oral presentation of project 20%
  • Term Research Project on an Indigenous People: Written report on project 30%
  • Preparation and Participation 25%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

All required readings for this course will be made available electronically through a course web page.

Department Undergraduate Notes:

If you have any Criminology course enrollment requests (course adds, course swaps), please contact a Criminology advisor. Please do not contact instructors for enrollment assistance as they will ultimately refer you to a Criminology advisor.

Criminology course enrollment requests should be sent to a Criminology advisor no later than the last day of the Second week of classes. Late enrollment requests are subject to approval and are not guaranteed. 

Enrollment requests for non-Crim courses should be directed to the advisor for the program offering the course. 


ATTENTION: STUDENTS WITH A DISABILITY: Please contact the Center for Accessible Learning, (MBC 1250 or Phone 778-782-3112) if you need or require assistance, not your individual instructors.  
  • A student must complete ALL aspects of a course (including assignments, exams, class participation, presentations, chat room components), otherwise they will receive a grade of N. 
  • The University has formal policies regarding academic dishonesty and grade appeals. Students are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with policy S 10.01, the Code of Academic Integrity and Good Conduct, available on the University’s website. Information about grade appeals may be obtained from the General Office of the School of Criminology.
  • Under GP18, the University has policies and procedures which respond to our obligations under the BC Human Rights Code to provide a harassment and discrimination free environment for the students, staff and faculty of this institution.  Members of this community have an affirmative obligation to safeguard the human rights of others.
UNIVERSITY POLICY FORBIDS FINAL EXAMINATIONS WHILE CLASSES ARE STILL IN SESSION.

Please note that all teaching at SFU in spring term 2021 will be conducted through remote methods. Enrollment in this course 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.

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) as soon as possible to ensure that they are eligible and that approved accommodations and services are implemented in a timely fashion.

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 their own 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

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 SPRING 2021

Teaching at SFU in spring 2021 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).