About this course: Indigenous Canada is a 12-lesson Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) that explores Indigenous histories and contemporary issues in Canada. From an Indigenous perspective, this course explores key issues facing Indigenous peoples today from a historical and critical perspective highlighting national and local Indigenous-settler relations. Topics for the 12 lessons include the fur trade and other exchange relationships, land claims and environmental impacts, legal systems and rights, political conflicts and alliances, Indigenous political activism, and contemporary Indigenous life, art and its expressions.
Created by: University of Alberta
Taught by: Dr. Tracy Bear, Assistant Professor
Faculty of Native Studies & Dept. of Women's and Gender Studies
Taught by: Dr. Paul Gareau, Assistant Professor
Faculty of Native Studies
| Commitment | 12 weeks, 3-5 hours a week. |
| Language | English |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Worldview
In this introductory module, students learn the significance of stories and storytelling in Indigenous societies. We explore history that comes from Indigenous worldviews, this includes worldviews from the Inuit, Nehiyawak, Kanien:keha’ka and Tlingit peoples.
4 videos, 2 readings
- Video: Introduction
- Video: Storytelling
- Video: Indigenous Worldviews
- Video: Reuben Quinn
- Reading: Worldview Course Notes
- Reading: Interactive Painting: A Tribute to Aboriginal Women
Graded: Module 1 Quiz
WEEK 2
Fur Trade
This module discusses pre-contact trading systems between Indigenous peoples of North America with a focus on the geographical region of Canada. We examine the chronological events of contact with Europeans and the events leading up to, and during the fur trade. This module also explores the long lasting social, political and economic ramifications of the fur trade on Indigenous peoples.
5 videos, 2 readings
- Video: Pre-Contact North American Networking
- Video: Colonization
- Video: The Fur Trade Part 1
- Video: The Fur Trade Part 2
- Video: Frank Tough
- Reading: Fur Trade Course Notes
- Reading: Interactive Painting: Education
Graded: Module 2 Quiz
WEEK 3
Trick or Treaty
Examines Indigenous and settler perspectives of treaty making. Discusses the variation of treaties in Canada and the unique circumstances surrounding these events. Outlines the temporal and geographical history of the numbered treaties (beginning on the east) and ends with a discussion of the historical events and policies leading up to Métis scrip.
5 videos, 2 readings
- Video: Perspectives on Treaty Making
- Video: Numbered Treaties Part 1
- Video: Numbered Treaties Part 2
- Video: Numbered Treaties Part 3
- Video: The Métis Nation
- Reading: Trick or Treaty Course Notes
- Reading: Interactive Painting: Governance
Graded: Module 3 Quiz
WEEK 4
New Rules, New Game
This lesson begins with a discussion about what is distinctive in Indigenous legal traditions. Explores impacts of policies put in place as British North America attempted to solidify itself geographically and socially. Examines the ways in which the Indian Act contributed to assimilation.
3 videos, 2 readings
- Video: Indigenous Concepts of Law
- Video: Outside Influences Part 1
- Video: Outside Influences Part 2
- Reading: New Rules, New Game Course Notes
- Reading: Interactive Painting: Governance
Graded: Module 4 Quiz
WEEK 5
“Killing the Indian in the Child”
Outlines characteristics of teaching and learning in Indigenous communities, and discusses how relationships were critical in teaching and learning. Traces the development and implementation of the Residential school system in the period after Confederation. Discusses intergenerational impact of Residential school system and the creation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
4 videos, 2 readings
- Video: Indigenous Teaching and Learning
- Video: Residential Schooling Part 1
- Video: Residential Schooling Part 2
- Video: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
- Reading: "Killing the Indian Child" Course Notes
- Reading: Interactive Painting: Education
Graded: Module 5 Quiz
WEEK 6
A Modern Indian?
This lesson examines the burgeoning resistance of Indigenous leaders and the formation of Indigenous-led organizations as the Canadian government employed strategies to encourage assimilation of Aboriginal peoples and communities into mainstream society, specifically relating to urbanization.
1 video, 2 readings
- Video: Traditional Economies
- Reading: A Modern Indian? Course Notes
- Reading: Interactive Painting: Resource Use
Graded: Module 6 Quiz
WEEK 7
Red Power
In this lesson students will learn about key characteristics of a few different Indigenous political structures and the impacts of colonialism on these structures (e.g. Indian Act, Red Power/AIM, White Paper, Red Paper -Citizens Plus) Concepts explored include self-government, self-determination, and Indigenous resurgence.
3 videos, 2 readings
- Video: Indigenous Political Structures
- Video: Influences of the Political System of the Canadian State
- Video: Sovereignty and Governance
- Reading: Red Power Course Notes
- Reading: Interactive Painting: Education
Graded: Module 7 Quiz
WEEK 8
Sovereign Lands
Utilizing contemporary and traditional examples, this lesson connects Indigenous worldviews and traditional ecological knowledge. As well, this lesson traces the historical impacts of settlement. Discusses key concepts of case law associated with Aboriginal title, rights to land and resources. List the on-going threats to Indigenous lands and how these threats and challenges are being addressed.
6 videos, 2 readings
- Video: Indigenous Relationship to the Land Part 1
- Video: Indigenous Relationship to the Land Part 2
- Video: Aboriginal Title and Right to Land Part 1
- Video: Aboriginal Title and Right to Land Part 2
- Video: Disconnection From Indigenous Lands Part 1
- Video: Disconnection From Indigenous Lands Part 2
- Reading: Sovereign Lands Course Notes
- Reading: Interactive Painting: The Arts and the Environment
Graded: Module 8 Quiz
WEEK 9
Indigenous Women
Exploring Indigenous concepts of gender, and the traditional roles and responsibilities, this lesson then moves into an examination of how colonization can be characterized as a gendered project. Identifies some concrete examples of the impact of colonialism on Indigenous women.
3 videos, 2 readings
- Video: Indigenous Concepts of Gender
- Video: Indigenous Women
- Video: Billy-Ray Belcourt
- Reading: Indigenous Women, Girls, and Genderful People Course Notes
- Reading: Interactive Painting: A Tribute to Aboriginal Women
Graded: Module 9 Quiz
WEEK 10
Indigenous in the City
Looking critically at the statement: “Cities are the place where Aboriginal culture goes to die”, this lesson explores sites of urban Aboriginal agency/active participation, urban Aboriginal governance practices, and urban reserves.
3 videos, 2 readings
- Video: Urban Indigeneity
- Video: Impact of City Life
- Video: Governance
- Reading: Indigenous in the City Course Notes
- Reading: Interactive Painting: Urbanization and its Effects
Graded: Module 10 Quiz
WEEK 11
Current Social Movements
What is an Indigenous concept of community? How do Indigenous people form communities traditionally and today? This module will explain how social and environmental activism can mobilize and create communities. This module identifies key moments such as the Oka Crisis, Idle No More and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls are grassroots resistance movements.
3 videos, 2 readings
- Video: Community
- Video: Resistance
- Video: Social Media
- Reading: Current Social Movements Course Notes
- Reading: Interactive Painting: Governance
Graded: Module 11 Quiz
WEEK 12
‘Living’ Traditions – Expressions in Pop Culture and Art
Finally, we will explore how geographical location, trading networks and partnerships have influenced Indigenous art in the past. As well, we will examine contemporary iterations of Indigenous art and explore some of the artistic responses of Indigenous artists, musicians, and writers to the impacts of colonialism.
6 videos, 2 readings
- Video: Indigenous Art Part 1
- Video: Indigenous Art Part 2
- Video: Indigenous Art Part 3
- Video: Aboriginal Voice Part 1
- Video: Aboriginal Voice Part 2
- Video: Course Art
- Reading: Living Traditions Course Notes
- Reading: Interactive Painting: The Arts and the Environment
Graded: Module 12 Quiz
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Ratings and Reviews
This is the history and social studies class we all should have had in school! My thanks to the instructors for filling in these deeply regretted blind spots in our education. I wonder how much more progress could have been made towards reconciliation if everyone was taught this 20 years ago. I heartily recommend this course to everyone!
Thanks to this course, I feel better prepared to share the indigenous ways of knowing with my high school social studies students. Thank you so much!
Kirsten Newman
I learned so much! This was a great course. Thank you to the instructors and the University of Alberta.
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This is the best course I have come across in terms of reflecting the indigenous experience in a forward thinking/reconciliatory way.
In my degree we had a course with a similar objective but the course providers were filled with pain and anger that made the course unbearable for the majority of my classmate indigenous and not.