Last updated: June 26, 2018 @ 11:12AM

Indigenous Studies

Director
Susan Sydor

General Information

Administrative Co-ordinator
Sarah McGean

905-688-5550, extension 3530
Welch Hall 68

The Tecumseh Centre for Aboriginal Research and Education focuses on Turtle Island Indigenous Cultures and Issues and offers an opportunity to study Indigenous languages, culture and society from a variety of disciplinary perspectives. It includes courses in Indigenous Studies and cross-listed courses from co-operating faculty in other departments/centres: Dramatic Arts, Sociology, and Women's and Gender Studies.

The Centre offers a program leading to a Certificate in Indigenous Language. The program provides an in-depth study of an Indigenous language and culture from beginner to advanced level.

The Centre also offers the Gidayaamin Indigenouss 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 Indigenous 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.

Indigenous Studies courses may be taken for credit as electives in any degree program or as a minor within their degree program.

Certificate Program

Certificate in Indigenous Language

The Certificate is awarded upon completion of the following courses with a minimum 60 percent overall average:
·   INDG 1F01, 2F01 and 3F01
·   two credits from INDG 2F91, 2F97, 4F01

Gidayaamin Indigenous Certificate

The Certificate is awarded upon completion of the following courses with a minimum 60 percent overall average:
·   INDG 1F90, 1F94, 1P22, 2F80, 2P50, 2P51 and 2P90

Minor in Indigenous Studies

Students in other disciplines can obtain a Minor in Indigenous Studies within their degree program by completing the following courses with a minimum 60 percent overall average:
·   Two INDG credits numbered 1(alpha)00 or above
·   two INDG credits numbered 2(alpha)00 or above

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.
INDG 1F01
Introduction to Mohawk
Common sentence forms and vocabulary taught by audio-lingual methods. Listening, reading and writing of words and language recorded by Mohawk speakers. Extended dialogues to increase fluency in speech and reading.
Lectures/seminar, 3 hours per week.
Note: one-third of class time is devoted to the study of Mohawk culture.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ABST 1F01, 1P01 and 1P02.

INDG 1F20
Introduction to Nishnawbe 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.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ABST 1F20.

INDG 1F90
Introduction to Indigenous Studies
Indigenous 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.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ABST 1F90.

INDG 1F94
The Traditional Indigenous Family
The traditional Indigenous 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.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ABST 1F94.

INDG 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 Haudenosaunee culture.
Lectures, lab, 4 hours per week.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ABST 1P03.

INDG 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): INDG (ABST) 1P03.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ABST 1P04.

INDG 1P22
Technology in Indigenous Community
Topics include representation of information, Microsoft applications, internet searching and library database instruction.
Lectures/seminar, 3 hours per week.
Restriction: open to ABWC certificate students until date specified in Registration guide.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ABST 1P22.

INDG 2F01
Intermediate Mohawk
Development of communication abilities and acquisition of the punctual, indefinite and perfect verb forms; transitive pronouns, noun incorporation and locative. Extension of literacy and oral skills through taped and written traditional stories.
Lectures, lab, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite(s): INDG (ABST) 1F01 (1P02).
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ABST 2F01.

INDG 2F14
Decolonizing Indigenous Women's Identities
(also offered as SOCI 2F14 and WGST 2F14)
Indigenous women's identities from social, cultural and political perspectives emphasizing culture, tradition and spirituality.
Lectures/seminar, 3 hours per week.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ABST 2F14.

INDG 2F20
Intermediate Nishnawbe 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): INDG (ABST) 1F20 or permission of the instructor.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ABST 2F20.

INDG 2F40
Indigenous Creative Arts
Historical and contemporary Indigenous creative expression from various traditions and cultures.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ABST 2F40.

INDG 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.
Restriction: open to BEd-Primary/Junior (Aboriginal) majors.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ABST 2F70.

INDG 2F80
Introduction to Indigenous Education in Canada
Overview of First Nation, Metis and Inuit education in Canada examining various Indigenous traditions, philosophies and culturally-based models. Purpose of education from both historical and contemporary Indigenous perspectives. Indigenous perspectives on the current state and future direction of teaching and research.
Seminar, 3 hours per week.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ABST 2F80.

INDG 2F91
Studies in Haudenosaunee History
History of a selected Haudenosaunee society emphasizing the historical perceptions, developments and interpretations of that society.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ABST 2F91.

INDG 2F95
Indigenous Culture and Early Childhood Education
Introducing early childhood educators to the culture of a selected Indigenous Society.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Restriction: open to students admitted to the BECE program.
Students will not receive earned credit in INDG 2F95 if ABST 2F96 has been successfully completed.

INDG 2F96
Studies in Indigenous Culture I
Culture of a selected Indigenous society emphasizing the cultural perceptions, developments and interpretations of that society.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ABST 2F96.

INDG 2F97
Studies in Haudenosaunee Culture
Culture of a selected Haudenosaunee society emphasizing the cultural perceptions, developments and interpretations of that society.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ABST 2F97.

INDG 2F98
Studies in Indigenous Culture II
Independent study in an area of mutual interest to the student and the instructor.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ABST 2F98.

INDG 2M90-2M95
Studies in Indigenous History
Variable topics course that surveys the history of a selected Indigenous society emphasizing the historical perceptions, developments and interpretations of that society.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ABST 2M90-2M95.

INDG 2M96-2M99
Studies in Indigenous Culture
Variable topics course that surveys the culture of a selected Indigenous society emphasizing the cultural perceptions, developments and interpretations of that society.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ABST 2M96-2M99.

INDG 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, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite(s): INDG (ABST) 1P04.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ABST 2P03.

INDG 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, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite(s): INDG (ABST) 2P03.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ABST 2P04.

INDG 2P17
Reclaiming Indigenous Women's Literary Traditions
(also offered as WGST 2P17)
Indigenous women's literature and the stories embedded within the literature as they apply to Indigenous women's histories. Emphasis on decolonizing, reclaiming and strategies of resistance through writing.
Lectures/seminar, 3 hours per week.
Restriction: open to ABWC students until date specified in Registration guide.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ABST 2P17.

INDG 2P50
Indigenous Spirituality I
Comparative survey of Indigenous 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.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ABST 1P50.

INDG 2P51
Indigenous Spirituality II
Study of the similarities and differences in Haudenosaunee and Anishinabe spiritual tradition and belief system.
Lectures/seminar, 3 hours per week.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ABST 1P51.

INDG 2P90
Pre-Confederation Indigenous History
Impact of colonialism on Indigenous peoples from contact to Confederation. Social, economic, and cultural impact on various First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples of Canada.
Seminar, 3 hours per week.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ABST 1P90.

INDG 2P91
Post-Confederation Indigenous History
Impact of colonialism on Indigenous peoples from Confederation to present day. Social, economic, and cultural impact on various First Nation, Metis and Inuit peoples of Canada.
Seminar, 3 hours per week.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ABST 1P91.

INDG 2P94
Introduction to Grammar for Teaching Indigenous Languages
Rudiments of Indigenous grammar and the way it is taught in a school setting emphasizing pronoun and verb morphologies.
Lectures, seminar, 36 hours.
Restriction: open to students admitted to the Primary and Junior (Aboriginal) program.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ABST 2P94 and ABTE 8P91.

INDG 2P96
Indigenous Theatre
(also offered as DART 2P96)
Theatrical, dramatic and performative representation of Indigenous peoples in the Canadian experience.
Prerequisite(s): DART 1P91 and 1P92 (1F91/1F93) or permission of the instructor.
Note: materials fee and field trip fee may be required.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ABST 2P96.

INDG 2P97
Indigenous Feminisms
(also offered as SOCI 2P97 and WGST 2P97)
Re-conceptualizes feminisms within a transnational Indigenous framework. Topics include debates within Indigenous knowledge production, analyses of genders and sexualities, violence, poverty, the politics of reproduction, cultural identities, media, and environmental and social justice.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite(s): one of, one INDG (ABST) credit, SOCI 1F90, WGST 1F90 or permission of the instructor.

INDG 3F01
Advanced Mohawk
Advanced studies in reading, writing and speaking in the Mohawk Language in a cultural context.
Lectures, lab, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite(s): INDG (ABST) 2F01.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ABST 3F01.

INDG 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, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite(s): INDG (ABST) 2P04.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ABST 3F03.

INDG 3F90
Studies in Indigenous History I
History of a selected Indigenous society emphasizing the historical perceptions, developments and interpretations of that society.
Lectures/seminar, 3 hours per week.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ABST 2F90.

INDG 3F91
Studies in Indigenous History II
Independent study in an area of mutual interest to the student and the instructor.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ABST 2F92.

INDG 3P47
Indigenous Women's Literature: Activism and Empowerment
(also offered as WGST 3P47)
Stories embedded within the literature as they apply to contemporary settings. Exploration of the power of Indigenous women's writing as a political and educational tool.
Seminar, 3 hours per week.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ABST 3P47.

INDG 3P69
Critical Perspectives in Indigenous Criminalization
(also offered as SOCI 3P69)
Sociological approaches to Indigenous criminalization. Topics may include imprisonment, gendered violence, state crimes, the policing of protest, and Indigenous law and self-governance.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Restriction: students must have a minimum of 7.0 overall credits or 2.0 SOCI credits above SOCI 1F90.
Prerequisite(s): one INDG (ABST) credit or SOCI 1F90.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ABST 3P69.

INDG 3P81
Indigenous Mothering and Motherhood: Historical and Contemporary Realities
(also offered as SOCI 3P81 and WGST 3P81)
Indigenous ideologies of mothering and motherhood from a variety of perspectives. Historical mothering practices and family structures highlighting unique roles of Indigenous women in many communities. Contemporary understandings of Indigenous ideologies of motherhood.
Lectures/seminar, 3 hours per week.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ABST 3P80.

INDG 3P84
Indigenous Human Rights
Historical and contemporary topics may include the Indian Act, Residential Schools, Child Welfare, Treaty relationships, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and violence against Indigenous women. Development and application of and implications for future directions.
Lectures/seminar, 3 hours per week.

INDG 3P85
Indigenous Perspectives in the Media
Historic and contemporary portrayals of women, land, spirituality, politics, education and Indigenous people in the media from an Indigenous perspective.
Lectures/seminar, 3 hours per week.

INDG 3P86
Indigenous Peoples in Global Perspective
(also offered as SOCI 3P86 and WGST 3P86)
Contemporary debates in global Indigenous movements, including the legacy of colonization, land dispossession, cultural appropriation and new developments in the areas of environmental justice, cultural revival and political sovereignty.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Restriction: open to SOCI (single or combined), WGST (single or combined), CRAS, SOCI and WGST minors until the date specified in Registration guide. Students must have a minimum of 7.0 overall credits or 2.0 SOCI credits above SOCI 1F90.
Prerequisite(s): one of, one INDG (ABST) credit, SOCI 1F90, WGST 1F90, 2P00 or permission of the Department of Sociology Administrator.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in INDG (SOCI) 3P46 and ABST 3P86.

INDG 3P95
Materials Development for Language Teaching
Teaching materials suitable to career settings and consistent with language methods taught in the program.
Lectures, seminar, 36 hours.
Restriction: open to students admitted to the Primary and Junior (Aboriginal) program.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ABST 3P95 and ABTE 8P94.

INDG 3Q90
Indigenous Cultural Production and Activism
(also offered as COMM 3Q90, DART 3Q90, INDG 3Q90, PCUL 3Q90, SOCI 3Q90 and WGST 3Q90)
Draws on cultural, experiential and theoretical texts to better understand Indigenous epistemologies. Examples include ImagineNative and community arts projects.
Lectures, field work, 3 hours per week.
Restriction: students must have a minimum of 7.0 overall credits.
Prerequisite(s): one of, one INDG (ABST) credit, COMM 1F90, PCUL 1F92, SOCI 1F90, WGST 1F90, 2P00 or permission of the instructor.
Note: students are expected to pay their own expenses.

INDG 3Q98
Indigenous Peoples in North America
(also offered as SOCI 3Q98 and WGST 3Q98)
Contemporary struggles for cultural survival, land, self-determination and rights in the context of colonialism in North America. Diversity of Indigenous peoples, including their internal debates and divides.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Restriction: open to SOCI (single or combined), WGST (single or combined) majors, CRAS, SOCI and WGST minors until date specified in Registration guide. Students must have a minimum of 7.0 overall credits or 2.0 SOCI credits above SOCI 1F90.
Prerequisite(s): one of, one INDG (ABST) credit, SOCI 1F90, WGST 1F90, 2P00 or permission of the Department of Sociology Administrator.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ABST 3Q98, INDG (SOCI) 3P46 and INDG (SOCI/WGST) 3P76.

INDG 4F01
The Haudenosaunee Spirit
Three main cultural traditions of contemporary and traditional Haudenosaunee: 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, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite(s): INDG (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.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ABST 4F01.

INDG 4P76
Indigenous Social and Political Thought
(also offered as SOCI 4P76 and WGST 4P76)
History and contemporary literatures on Indigenous epistemologies, the political philosophy of movements for decolonization, environmental sustainability, and Indigenous writing on gendered justice and cultural resurgence in a globalizing world emphasizing writings by Indigenous scholars.
Seminar, 3 hours per week.
Restriction: open to SOCI (single or combined) and WGST (single or combined) majors until date specified in Registration guide. Students must have approval to year 4 (honours).
Prerequisite(s): one of, one INDG (ABST) credit, two SOCI credits, two WGST credits or permission of the Department of Sociology Administrator.
Completion of this course will replace previous assigned grade and credit obtained in ABST 4P76.

INDG 4P84
Indigenous Peoples and Social Justice: Contemporary Issues
Critical analysis of social justice issues that impact Indigenous communities with respect to land, politics, children, governance and women.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.

INDG 4P91
Contemporary Indigenous Performance I
Advanced exploration of North American Indigenous cultures and representations through multimedia and interdisciplinary performance.
Lectures/seminar, 3 hours per week.

INDG 4P92
Contemporary Indigenous Performance II
Creation and production of original works dealing with North American Indigenous topics and issues.
Lectures/seminar, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite(s): INDG 4P91.