Spring 2018 - REM 607 G100

STT-Indigenous Governance and Resource Relationships (Inactive) (5)

Class Number: 13008

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 3 – Apr 10, 2018: Tue, Thu, 4:30–6:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Explores diverse Indigenous perspectives on governance, resource, land and water management, intergovernmental relations and economic development in the context of contemporary settler colonialism in Canada. Skills include critical thinking, anti-colonial, economic, political and policy analyses. Students with credit for REM 407 may not take this course for further credit.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course examines a variety of Indigenous perspectives, priorities and complications with respect to governance, and resource, land and water management in British Columbia. We begin with an exploration of Indigenous worldviews, values and principles, especially as they relate to “resources,” and matters of kinship, responsibility, respect, and reciprocity. We will then seek to understand intergovernmental relations within the context of settler colonialism and neoliberal capitalism. Students will receive an introduction into the complex issues and difficult decisions faced by Indigenous peoples, including diversity and divergence of values and principles, economic and community development pressures, poverty, settler colonialism and the ongoing struggles for Indigenous self-determination.

This course will include theoretical foundations of Indigenous worldviews, settler colonialism, neoliberal capitalism and Indigenous-Settler relations, as well as an examination of several case studies, primarily from British Columbia. Students will be encouraged to critically analyze contemporary resource management/relationship issues from Indigenous, anti-colonial, and anti-capitalist perspectives. As many REM students go on to work on these issues directly after graduation, here they will be exposed to them here from the positions of empathy and solidarity.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

By the end of the course students will have gained:
1.  An understanding of various Indigenous perspectives on resource and environmental management issues in BC.
2.  A basic understanding of Indigenous governance institutions, community priorities and complications.
3.  Critical thinking skills, especially from Indigenous, anti-colonial and anti-capitalist perspectives.
4.  To cultivate and nurture empathy, solidarity and allyship with Indigenous communities with respect to their struggles for self-determination and resource relationships.  

Grading

  • Participation 25%
  • Precis 10%
  • Readings Review 20%
  • Term Paper 45%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Atleo, Umeek E. Richard. Tsawalk: A Nuu-chah-nulth Worldview. Vancouver: UBC Press, 2005.

Braun, Bruce. The Intemperate Rainforest: Nature, Culture, and Power on Canada’s West Coast. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2002.

Coté, Charlotte. Spirits of our Whaling Ancestors Revitalizing Makah & Nuu-chah-nulth Traditions. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2010.

Additional Required Readings: Will be available online (Canvas), through the library, or will be emailed to students via the course email list.

Graduate Studies Notes:

Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS