MON FRASER UNIVERSITY

Summer Semester 2001 ?

EDUC 376 - 3

Dr. Carolyn Kenny

Special Topics:

Office: EDB 8643

Revitalization of Aboriginal Societies

Phone: 291-3630

D01.00

E-mail: cbk@sfu.ca

Wednesdays 13:00-15:50 in EDB 7610

PREREQUISITE

60 credit hours

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Currently Aboriginal peoples are participating in revitalization processes designed to save and restore

their languages and cultures, to infuse their communities with health and education, to reclaim their

traditional territories and rights to resources. This course will offer students an opportunity to learn

about theses initiatives and processes through studying the history, worldview and contemporary

issues of Aboriginal peoples in Canada and other parts of the world.

The four major themes for the course are land, language, philosophy, and arts. Students will examine

how each theme contributes to the revitalization process. Distinguished speakers, course readings,

discussion, film and lecture will provide a venue for learning and understanding and sharing.

Relationships between the four themes will be explored to understand how social change occurs. The

course will also explore media coverage of First Nations people and cultures. Students will be

encouraged to visit Aboriginal urban centres which provide programming for First Nations people

and visitors such as the Native Friendship Centre, UBC Museum of Man, the Native Education

Centre, etc.

OBJECTIVES

• To become familiar with the history of Aboriginal peoples in BC

• To learn about the relationship between Aboriginal people and their traditional territories

• To learn about the Aboriginal language movement around the world

• To learn about Aboriginal art and its renaissance in BC

• To study the worldview of Aboriginal peoples and the diversity of values, beliefs, and

cultural practices

• To reflect on students' own attitudes on Aboriginal issues in contemporary society

• To critique and reflect on media coverage of Aboriginal issues

ASSIGNMENTS

Scrapbook containing clips of media coverage on Aboriginal issues with critical

and reflective comments - 40%

Academic paper on class readings, lectures, discussions - 60%

REQUIRED READINGS

Alfred, Taiaiake (1999). Peace, Power, Righteousness: An indigenous manifesto. Toronto: Oxford

University Press.

Kirkness, Verna (1998). Aboriginal Languages: A collection of talks and papers. Vancouver, BC:

V. Kirkness. ?

Kawagley, A. Oscar (1995). A Yupiaq Woridview: A pathway to ecology and spirit. Waveland Press.