Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2026 - INDG 201W OL01

Indigenous Peoples' Perspectives on History (3)

Class Number: 3760

Delivery Method: Online

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Online

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An examination of fact and ideology in history and historic events involving contact between Indigenous and European peoples. The course will also address questions of research methodologies in studying Indigenous/European relations, such as the evaluation of oral history and written ethnohistoric sources. An additional focus will be on gender as it influences perspectives. Students with credit for FNST 201W may not take this course for further credit. Writing/Breadth-Social Sci.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course is an examination of fact and ideology in history and historic events involving contact between Indigenous and European peoples. The course will also address questions of research methodologies in studying Indigenous/European relations, such as the evaluation of oral history and written ethnohistoric sources.

In this iteration of the course students will engage with a range of Indigenous experiences in both local and global contexts. How does history construct a “contact zone” between Indigenous representations of self and colonial representation of other? What mediums for recording/telling history are important to Indigenous people? What methods have Indigenous people used to contest their historical misrepresentation? What is the role of gender in influencing perspective? Upon completion, students will have an informed foundation with which to engage in discussion about these topics. 

Credit: This course has been adapted from a course designed by Dr. Deanna Reder and her colleagues. Much of the content and assignment structure has been drawn from its original version.

Grading

  • Engagement 10%
  • Written Responses (3 x 10% each) 30%
  • Reading Quizzes (3 x 5%) 15%
  • Research Paper Proposal 15%
  • Final Research Paper 30%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Campbell, M. (2025). Halfbreed. Random House. 

Trask, H.-K. (1999). From a native daughter: Colonialism and sovereignty in Hawaii (Revised edition). University of Hawaii Press. 

Department Undergraduate Notes:

Health and Well-Being Supports for Indigenous Studies students
The Indigenous Student Centre has various different supports available to students to ensure their health and well-being.  Please visit their website to see what is available: https://www.sfu.ca/students/indigenous/wellness.html. 

NOTE re AI
Please note that submissions that employ generative AI tools in this course (for idea generation or other purposes) are not accepted by the Department. Your grade in this course is meant to reflect your personal engagement with course materials. If you are ever unsure about your instructor's stance on generative AI, please be sure to ask before submitting work using these tools: "If you are unsure, you must not assume that using generative AI is permitted." - SFU Academic Integrity
Those who employ these tools in their course submissions may face disciplinary action in accordance with SFU's academic integrity policies. https://www.sfu.ca/students/enrolment-services/academic-integrity/using-generative-ai.html

COPYRIGHT
Materials included in this course, unless otherwise stated, have been created by the Instructor, and reproducing or using this material outside of this course is not permitted unless written consent has been provided by the owner of this material. The course-based Canvas page and its related resources are maintained and developed by the Instructor for the use of the students registered to take this course. Course materials such as PowerPoint slides, lecture notes, the lecture itself and exams are all protected by copyright. Recording, copying or sharing these materials without permission may be a violation of Canadian copyright law and SFU policies. What does this mean? It means that you are legally not permitted to circulate the course materials to any other entity without explicit permission from the course author.

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: 


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.