Overview

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An introduction to Indigenous land-based knowledge, this 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:

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 land-based knowledge, practices and relationships. This course explores land-based knowledge and 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 land-based practices and knowledge to better understand current day Indigenous priorities with land-based knowledge. The course is blended with online lectures, in-person tutorials and field days

Field Trips:  
There will be mandatory field trips on Saturday September 26th (All Day) and Friday October 23rd  (Half Day). You will depart campus approximately at 9am for the all-day trip and 12:30pm for the half day trips and you will return approximately at 5:30pm, these times are subject to change 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 knowledge 

• Think critically about the colonial impacts on Indigenous land-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 knowledge in academic and professional settings 

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

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