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:

Students will engage in critical examination of the relationships between social, cultural, historical, and political contexts shaping health and wellbeing among Indigenous Peoples around the world. In particular, this course focuses on the effects of colonialism, and in this iteration of the course we will follow current actions of colonial states in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the strengths demonstrated by Indigenous communities in their pandemic response. Students will be expected to examine their own values, privilege, assumptions, and motivations when engaging in both local and global work, particularly that which involves Indigenous Peoples. The intent of this course will be to increase students’ awareness and knowledge of issues impacting the wellbeing of Indigenous Peoples globally, and to build and refine skills that will allow students to work sensitively both within and outside the public health context. Although this course is designed for a diverse audience, it is best suited for senior undergraduate students with introductory level exposure to descriptive public and population health statistics.

Special Considerations: Given the rapidly evolving and uncertain circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, this course is designed with student mental health and wellbeing as a priority, which will be reflected in the content and delivery of course material, reading and assignment workload, and evaluation structure. The material presented throughout this course contains sensitive topics that can be troubling or triggering for some students. The instructor will ensure content and trigger warnings are provided well in advance of sensitive readings, videos, and lecture content.

Instructor and Contact information: Chenoa Cassidy-Matthews, MPH, PhD(c) School of Population and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia

Email: chenoac@sfu.ca 

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Indigenous Peoples in Canada have rich and diverse histories, cultures, and sociopolitical structures. While health and wellness are understood differently through distinct worldviews, most traditional models of wellness follow similar holistic understandings of the world and are similarly impacted by colonialism. Colonialism by its definition is a global phenomenon, and so this course will first consider different definitions of health and wellness by Indigenous Nations and groups around the world. It will then lay the groundwork for understanding the health conditions of Indigenous Peoples in Canada and globally, through the historic and ongoing oppressive systems of colonialism. The course will draw examples from national and community pandemic response, in particular COVID-19 response, for critical and comparative examination of intersecting factors that contribute to health outcomes, as well as Indigenous initiatives to protect and restore health in their communities. Throughout, we will practice reflexivity and employ strengths-based approaches to public and global health problems.

By the end of this course, students will have had the opportunity to:

1. Develop an understanding of and appreciation for the distinctions between Indigenous and colonial models of wellness;
2. Recognize and critically analyze the intersections of social, cultural, historical and political contexts in shaping health inequities experienced among Indigenous Peoples;
3. Understand and apply global health concepts to current and evolving public health emergencies from diverse Indigenous perspectives;
4. Examine their own values, assumptions and motivations when engaging in Indigenous health work at local, regional, national or international levels; and
5. Increase their awareness, knowledge, and skills to work in a culturally safe manner with a variety of groups and in a variety of contexts.

Grading

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

Required texts: Instructor will assign readings from the public domain, documents available free of charge online, and/or available through the SFU library.