Fall 2026 - ENGL 431W D100
Seminar in Indigenous Literatures (4)
Class Number: 2608
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Wed, Fri, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
Burnaby
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Instructor:
Deanna Reder
dhr@sfu.ca
1 778 782-8192
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Prerequisites:
45 units or two 300-division English courses. Strongly recommended: At least one Indigenous studies course.
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
Advanced seminar on selected works by Indigenous writers. May be organized by author, genre, or critical approach. This course may be repeated for credit if a different topic is taught. Writing.
COURSE DETAILS:
Graphic Novels, Film, and Media: Expressions of Indigenous Visual Sovereignty
While comic strips and graphic novels are often discussed as inventions of the past two centuries, Indigenous visual artists often credit longstanding cultural practices such as sequential visual storytelling as inspiration for their contemporary work. And while Indigenous people have been a central focus of filmmakers since Edison first filmed Sioux ghost dancers in 1894 and Robert Flaherty released Nanook of the North in 1922, Indigenous filmmakers have adopted filmmaking to counter oppressive depictions and to better tell stories of specific interest to them. More recently, Indigenous theorists like Jason Edward Lewis (Hawaiian/Samoan) reminds us that technology developers design “the epistemological protocols through which culture operates…[choosing]…what counts as knowledge”. In this course, we will study various forms of visual media, to go beyond the rejection of colonial imposed stereotypes to value Indigenous worldview and interpretations of media, thinking through what Michelle Raheja (Seneca) calls “Visual Sovereignty,” to better acknowledge Indigenous creators, and to expand the definitions of Indigenous literatures and storytelling.
COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:
- to read, interpret, and creatively engage with Indigenous texts that work at the interface of the visual and the textual
- to explore alternate modes of critical thinking through image and text
- to acknowledge the diversity and complexity of Indigenous stories in many forms and formats
Grading
- Participation, Attendance, Seminar Presentations on Specific Assigned Readings/Films 20%
- Sketches/Composition Notebook on class readings/viewings 25%
- Personal History Notebook 20%
- Final Project: Essay (2000–2500 words) OR Graphic Novel (5 pages) with critical introduction (1000–1500 words) plus revision 35%
Materials
MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:
Films to View (available through the SFU library): If there is a problem accessing any titles, some media titles may be switched
Nanook of the North (1922), directed by Robert Flaherty
Reel Injun (2009), directed by Neal Diamond
Smoke Signals (1998), directed by Chris Eyre
Atanarjuat (2000), directed by Zacharias Kunuk
Night Raiders (2021), directed by Danis Goulet
A film by Alanis Obamsawin (from a selected list),
At the Place of Ghosts (Sk+te'kmujue'katik), dir. by Bretten Hannam, music by Jeremy Dutcher
Additional media by Skawenatti, Jason Edward Lewis, Kevin Lee Burton, BeatNation, and others
REQUIRED READING:
Pauls, Cole. Dakwakada Warriors (2019).
ISBN: 978-1772620412
Hill, Gord. 500 Years of Resistance Comic Book (2010). (Available online through SFU Library)
Yahgulanaas, Michael Nicoll (2012). Red: A Haida Manga. (online-SFU Library)
Spillett, Tasha. Surviving the City (2018), illustrated by Natasha Donovan. (SFU online)
Hearne, Joanna and Karrmen Crey. By Their Work: Indigenous Women’s Digital Media in North America (2025). (Available online through SFU Library)
Reder, Deanna and Linda M. Morra. Learn, Teach, Challenge. (2016). (online-SFU Library)
And additional readings on Canvas by such authors as Michelle Raheja
RECOMMENDED READING:
Inspiration for the creative assignments come from Dr. Sophie McCall’s syllabus published in the special issue of Studies in American Indian Literature, Spring-Summer 2022, Vol.34, no. 1-2, pp. 257-261.
Department Undergraduate Notes:
IMPORTANT NOTE Re 300 and 400 level courses: 75% of spaces in 300 level English courses, and 100% of spaces in 400 level English courses, are reserved for declared English Major, Minor, Extended Minor, Joint Major, and Honours students only, until open enrollment begins.
For all On-Campus Courses, please note the following:
- To receive credit for the course, students must complete all requirements.
- Tutorials/Seminars WILL be held the first week of classes.
- When choosing your schedule, remember to check "Show lab/tutorial sections" to see all Lecture/Seminar/Tutorial times required.
Registrar Notes:
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS
At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.
To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit:
- SFU’s Academic Integrity Policy: S10-01 Policy
- SFU’s Academic Integrity website, which includes helpful videos and tips in plain language: Academic Integrity at SFU
RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION
Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.