Overview

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An introduction to Indigenous place-based knowledge, this term long course will explore interrelationships between people to their local environments, with a focus on the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) Nation and other Indigenous peoples and environments in and around coastal British Columbia. The course will integrate knowledge of culturally important plants and animals, their habitats and ecological interrelationships.

COURSE DETAILS:

Course Details

This course explores the role of Indigenous Knowledge in documenting and understanding how place relates to cultural identity and shapes how Indigenous communities relate to their traditional territories. Indigenous geography weaves together place-based knowledge, practices and relationships. This course explores land-based knowledge and place-based relationships and how these intersect with the fields of ethnobotany and ethnobiology. We will focus primarily on examples from the traditional territory of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) First Nation and other Indigenous communities in the area now known as British Columbia. During this course we will examine a timeline of colonial events that have impacted land access and cultural land and place-based practices and knowledge to better understand current day Indigenous priorities with land-based and place-based knowledge. The course is blended with online lectures, in-person tutorials and field days.

Field Trips: There will be mandatory field trips on Friday January 31st, Friday February 28th and Friday March 21st) 2025. You will depart campus approximately at 12:30pm and return approximately at 5:30pm, these times are subject to later start times and will be updated in class. Your mandatory supplementary course fee covers the travel costs; you should plan to bring your own food and water. Be aware that during the field trip there may be periods of walking on uneven ground and sustained time outside regardless of weather. Appropriate clothing and footwear must be worn. Further details regarding safety will be discussed prior to the field trips. Students must always remain compliant with all student responsibilities, regulations, and policies as outlined in the current Academic Calendar, as well as relevant regulations and policies as outlined in the SFU Policy Gazette and Provincial Health guidelines. This includes, but is not limited to, expected student conduct and the maintenance of appropriate medical insurance coverage.

Tutorials:
Tutorials will not be held every week due to the field trips. Exact dates will be shared in class.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

· Develop appreciation of the concepts, principles and practices related to Indigenous land-based and place-based knowledge

· Think critically about the colonial impacts on Indigenous land-based and place-based knowledge

· Explain current examples of cultural knowledge renewal taking place in local Indigenous communities

· Develop awareness of the potential, protocols, and issues associated with applications of Indigenous land-based and place-based knowledge in academic and professional settings

· Explore our own relationships with places that are important to us

Grading

Materials

REQUIRED READING NOTES: