Last updated: April 2, 2013 @ 03:55PM
Aboriginal Studies
Director
Lorenzo Cherubini
General Information
Administrative Co-ordinator
Janie Hodson
905-688-5550, extension 3971
Captain John DeCew 104
The Tecumseh Centre for Aboriginal Research and Education offers a program leading to a Certificate in Aboriginal Language. The program provides an in-depth study of an Aboriginal language and culture from beginner to advanced level.
The Centre also offers the Gidayaamin Aboriginal Women's Certificate Program, designed to be a first year certificate that allows students to transition into an undergraduate degree program of their choice. Embedded in the program design is a holistic system of support that will assist Aboriginal women in meeting their full academic potential in balance with cultural traditions and spirituality.
The requirements for admission to the certificate programs are the same as admission to a degree program. See "Certificate Requirements" under Academic Regulations.
Aboriginal Studies courses may be taken for credit as electives in any degree program.
Certificate Program
Certificate in Aboriginal Language
The Certificate is awarded upon completion of the following courses with a minimum 60 percent overall average:
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ABST 1P01, 1P02, 2F01 and 3F01 |
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two credits from ABST 2F91, 2F97, 4F01 |
Gidayaamin Aboriginal Women's Certificate
The Certificate is awarded upon completion of the following courses with a minimum 60 percent overall average:
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ABST 1F90, 1F94, 1P22, 1P50, 1P51, 2F14 and 2P17 |
Description of Courses
Note that not all courses are offered in every session. Refer to the applicable term timetable for details.
# Indicates a cross listed course
* Indicates primary offering of a cross listed course
Prerequisites and Restrictions
Students must check to ensure that prerequisites are met. Students may be deregistered, at the request of the instructor, from any course for which prerequisites and/or restrictions have not been met.
ABST 1F20
Introduction to Algonkian Languages
Common sentence forms and vocabulary taught by audio-lingual methods. Listening, reading and writing of stories recorded by native speakers. Extended dialogues and storytelling to increase fluency in speech and reading.
Lectures/seminar, 3 hours per week.
ABST 1F90
Introduction to Aboriginal Studies
Native cultures in contemporary North America. Diverse and common features of different nations; effects of geography, politics, history and language use.
Lectures/seminar, 3 hours per week.
ABST 1F94
The Traditional Aboriginal Family
The traditional Aboriginal family from pre-contact to the contemporary. Topics include commonalities among cultures, dynamics of family change and development, traditional family planning and parenting as well as individual, family and community relationships and roles.
Lectures/seminar, 3 hours per week.
ABST 1P01
Introduction to Mohawk I
Common sentence forms and vocabulary taught by audio-lingual methods. Listening, reading and writing of stories recorded by native speakers. Materials chosen for cultural and linguistic content. About one-third of class time is devoted to study of the Mohawk culture.
Lectures, lab, 4 hours per week.
ABST 1P02
Introduction to Mohawk II
Extended dialogues and storytelling to increase fluency in speech and reading. Transcription of and response to recorded language samples to extend writing in the Mohawk language.
Lectures, lab, 4 hours per week.
Prerequisite(s): ABST 1P01.
ABST 1P03
Introduction to Cayuga I
Common sentence forms and vocabulary taught by audio-lingual methods. Listening, reading and writing of stories recorded by native speakers are used. Materials are chosen for cultural and linguistic content. About one-third of class time is devoted to study of the Iroquois culture.
Lectures, lab, 4 hours per week.
ABST 1P04
Introduction to Cayuga II
Extended dialogues and storytelling to increase fluency in speech and reading. Transcription of and response to recorded language samples to extend writing in the Cayuga language.
Lectures, lab, 4 hours per week.
Prerequisite(s): ABST 1P03.
ABST 1P22
Technology in Aboriginal Community
Topics include representation of information, Microsoft applications, internet searching and library database instruction.
Lectures/seminar, 3 hours per week.
ABST 1P31
Introduction to Michif Language I
Common sentence forms and vocabulary taught by audio-lingual methods. Listening, reading and writing of stories recorded by native speakers including an introduction to the Métis culture.
Lectures/seminar, 3 hours per week.
ABST 1P32
Introduction to Michif Language II
Extended dialogues and storytelling to increase fluency in speech and reading. Transcription of, and response to, recorded language samples to extend writing in the Michif language.
Lectures/seminar, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite(s): ABST 1P31 or permission of the instructor.
ABST 1P50
Aboriginal Spirituality I
Comparative survey of Aboriginal spiritual traditions and the influence on contemporary lifestyle and thought of peoples residing in Canada and the United States.
Lectures/seminar, 3 hours per week.
ABST 1P51
Aboriginal Spirituality II
Study of the similarities and differences in Iroquois and Anishinabe spiritual tradition and belief systems.
Lectures/seminar, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite(s): ABST 1P50 or permission of the instructor.
ABST 2F01
Intermediate Mohawk
Development of communication abilities and acquisition of the punctual, indefinite and perfect verb forms; transitive pronouns, noun incorporation and locatives. Extension of literacy and oral skills through taped and written traditional stories.
Lectures, lab, 4 hours per week.
Prerequisite(s): ABST 1P02.
ABST 2F14
Decolonizing Aboriginal Women's Identities
Aboriginal women's identities from social, cultural and political perspectives emphasizing culture, tradition and spirituality.
Lectures/seminar, 3 hours per week.
ABST 2F20
Intermediate Algonkian Languages
Development of communication abilities and acquisition of the punctual, indefinite and perfect verb forms; transitive pronouns, noun incorporation and locatives. Extension of literacy and oral skills through taped and written traditional stories.
Lectures/seminar, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite(s): ABST 1F20 or permission of the instructor.
ABST 2F40
Indigenous Creative Arts
Historical and contemporary Indigenous creative expression from various traditions and cultures.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
ABST 2F70
Sharing Our Stories as an Approach to History
The traditional Anishnawbeg "Story of the Seven Fires" forms as organizational framework for the study of community histories of the Nishnawbe Aski territory.
Lectures/seminar, 6 hours per week.
ABST 2F90
Studies in Aboriginal History I
History of a selected Aboriginal society emphasizing the historical perceptions, developments and interpretations of that society.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
ABST 2F91
Studies in Hodonohsonni History (in Mohawk)
History of a selected Hodinohsonni society emphasizing the historical perceptions, developments and interpretations of that society.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Note: this course is taught in Mohawk.
ABST 2F92
Studies in Aboriginal History II
Independent study in an area of mutual interest to the student and the instructor.
ABST 2F96
Studies in Aboriginal Culture I
Culture of a selected Aboriginal society emphasizing the cultural perceptions, developments and interpretations of that society.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
ABST 2F97
Studies in Hodinohsonni Culture (in Mohawk)
Culture of a selected Hodinohsonni society emphasizing the cultural perceptions, developments and interpretations of that society.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Note: this course is taught in Mohawk.
ABST 2F98
Studies in Aboriginal Culture II
Independent study in an area of mutual interest to the student and the instructor.
ABST 2M90-2M95
Studies in Aboriginal History
Variable topics course that surveys the history of a selected Aboriginal society emphasizing the historical perceptions, developments and interpretations of that society.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
ABST 2M96-2M99
Studies in Aboriginal Culture
Variable topics course that surveys the culture of a selected Aboriginal society emphasizing the cultural perceptions, developments and interpretations of that society.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
ABST 2P03
Intermediate Cayuga I
Application of literacy skills and extension of vocabulary and listening skills by reading taped stories and legends and responding orally to audio-taped exercises and in writing to printed exercises.
Lectures, lab, 4 hours per week.
Prerequisite(s): ABST 1P04.
ABST 2P04
Intermediate Cayuga II
Development of communication abilities and acquisition of the grammatical forms of future, aorist, indefinite and perfect tenses; transitive pronouns, noun incorporation and locatives.
Lectures, lab, 4 hours per week.
Prerequisite(s): ABST 2P03.
ABST 2P17
Reclaiming Aboriginal Women's Literary Traditions
Aboriginal women's literature and the stories embedded within the literature as they apply to Aboriginal women's histories. Emphasis on decolonizing, reclaiming and strategies of resistance through writing.
Lectures/seminar, 3 hours per week.
ABST 2P96
Aboriginal Theatre
(also offered as DART 2P96)
Theatrical, dramatic and performative representation of Aboriginal peoples in the Canadian experience.
Prerequisite(s): DART 1F93 or permission of the instructor.
ABST 3F01
Advanced Mohawk
Focus on the Great Law and the Code of Handsome Lake. Study of the elevated language and contemporary significance of these works from a Mohawk perspective.
Lectures, lab, 4 hours per week.
Prerequisite(s): ABST 2F01.
ABST 3F03
Advanced Cayuga
Focus on the Great Law and the Code of Handsome Lake. Study of the elevated language and contemporary significance of these works from a Cayuga perspective.
Lectures, lab, 4 hours per week.
Prerequisite(s): ABST 2P04.
ABST 3P46
Aboriginal Peoples in Canadian and Global Perspectives
(also offered as SOCI 3P46)
Contemporary struggles for cultural survival, land, self-determination and rights in the context of colonialism in Canada and globally. Diversity of indigenous peoples, including their internal debates and divides. Indigenous perspectives.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Restriction: open to SOCI (single or combined) majors, CRMR and SOCI minors until date specified in Registration guide.
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 1F90 or permission of the Department Administrator.
ABST 4F01
The Iroquois Spirit
Three main cultural traditions of contemporary and traditional Iroquois: the Teharonhyawkoh - The Myth of the Earth Grasper (an extensive treatise on Iroquoian Cosmology), the Kaya-nere'kowa -Constitution of the Great Law and the Kariwiyo - the Code of Handsome Lake.
Lectures, lab, 4 hours per week.
Prerequisite(s): ABST 3F01 or 3F03.
Note: this course will be conducted partially in the Mohawk language and utilize guest speakers who are recognized experts on the Iroquoian tradition.