Program Requirements
The Minor Concentration in Indigenous Studies provides students with a broad, interdisciplinary view of key issues in the historical, social and cultural dimensions of Indigenous life in Canada. Core courses offered within the program will provide interdisciplinary treatments of Indigenous life. The Program will focus on the history of indigenous populations in Canada, Aboriginal art and culture, the experience of indigeneity and gender, and legacies of Indigenous resistance to the Canadian state.
Required Courses (6 credits)
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INDG 200 Introduction to Indigenous Studies (3 credits)
Overview
INDG : The focus is on Indigenous experience in Canada, but encourages comparative approaches. Introduction to the social, political, economic and cultural dimensions of Indigenous life in Canada.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Reid, Christopher (Fall)
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INDG 401 Interdisciplinary Seminar in Indigenous Studies (3 credits)
Overview
INDG : The focus is on Indigenous experience in Canada, but encourages comparative approaches.Capstone seminar course offering an in-depth focus on one or more issues in Indigenous Studies.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Reid, Christopher (Winter)
Complementary Courses (12 credits)
A maximum of 3 complementary course credits at the 200-level. A maximum of 6 credits from any given discipline with the exception of Indigenous Studies (INDG) courses.
Anthropology
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ANTH 338 Indigenous Studies of Anthropology (3 credits)
Overview
Anthropology : Introduction to Native American and Indigenous studies (NAIS) as a means of critically engaging with the discipline of anthropology.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Sabiston, Leslie James (Winter)
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ANTH 436 North American Native Peoples (3 credits)
Overview
Anthropology : A detailed examination of selected contemporary problems.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Canadian Studies
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CANS 306 Topics in Indigenous Public Affairs
(3 credits)
Overview
Canadian Studies : Past and present achievements and concerns within Indigenous societies across Canada.
Terms: Summer 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken Issues in Native Studies as a CANS topics course.
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CANS 315 Indigenous Art and Culture (3 credits)
Overview
Canadian Studies : An examination of the work of selected First Nations, M脙漏tis and Inuit artists in Canada.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Bell, Gloria (Winter)
Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken or are taking ARTH 315 or have taken "Aboriginal Art and Culture" as a CANS or ARTH topics course.
English
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ENGL 297 Special Topics of Literary Study (3 credits)
Overview
English (Arts) : Special topics of literary study. Topic varies by year.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
For the most detailed and up-to-date descriptions of course and seminar offerings please see the Department of English website at .
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ENGL 440 First Nations and Inuit Literature and Media (3 credits)
Overview
English (Arts) : An introduction to Inuit and First Nations literature and media in Canada, including oral literature and the development of aboriginal television and film.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies
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GSFS 307 Indigenous Feminisms (3 credits)
Overview
GSFS : Explores Indigenous feminisms in historical and contemporary contexts, with a critical focus on the tensions between feminist and Indigenous epistemologies. The relationships between feminisms, settler-colonialism, nation-building, and Indigenous social justice struggles will be emphasized.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Shah Hoque, Anna (Winter)
Geography
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GEOG 301 Geography of Nunavut (3 credits)
Overview
Geography : An introduction to the physical and cultural geography of Canada's newest territory. The course will emphasize the bio-physical heterogeneity of the natural environment and the cultural and political ecology of the human population.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Fall
3 hours
History
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HIST 202 Survey: Canada to 1867 (3 credits)
Overview
History : A survey of early Canada, from periods known mainly through archaeological records to the Confederation era. Social, cultural, economic and political themes will be examined.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Heaman, Elsbeth Anne (Fall)
Fall
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HIST 223 Indigenous Peoples and Empires (3 credits)
Overview
History : History of Indigenous Peoples of North and South America and their early experiences of European conquest and colonization, c. 1400 - 1800.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Nawrocki, Iwa (Winter)
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HIST 303 History of Quebec (3 credits)
Overview
History : Covering Quebec history from New France to contemporary times, this course will include themes like ethnic relations, citizenship, gender and material culture. It is of particular interest to students in Education who foresee teaching about Quebec.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Mathieu, Jean-Philip (Fall)
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HIST 309 History of Latin America to 1825 (3 credits)
Overview
History : The social, cultural, and economic aspects of Latin America and the Caribbean in the colonial period and the transition to independence.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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HIST 333 Indigenous Peoples and French (3 credits)
Overview
History : Encounters between Indigenous Peoples and French newcomers in Canada and other parts of North America, 16th - 18th century. Through an examination of exploration, Catholic missions, trade, military alliances and colonization, the course focuses on the motives, outlooks and actions of both Indigenous Peoples and Europeans.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
- HIST 361 Topics in Canadian Regional History (3 credits)
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HIST 363 Canada 1870-1914 (3 credits)
Overview
History : This course will examine social, economic, political and cultural aspects of Canadian society between 1870 and 1914. Topics covered will include aboriginal peoples, European settlement of the West, provincial rights, the national policy, social reform movements, industrialization, immigration and the rise of cities.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Nerbas, Don (Winter)
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HIST 408 Selected Topics in Indigenous History
(3 credits)
Overview
History : Selected topics in Indigenous history.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Prerequisite: HIST 223
Topics will vary from year to year.
Indigenous Studies
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INDG 202 Topics in Indigenous Studies 1 (3 credits)
Overview
INDG : Drawing upon and introducing the burgeoning field of Indigenous Studies, this course is designed to be an introduction to selected themes and topics in Indigenous Studies. Possible examples: Indigenous health, Haudenosaunne culture etc. Topics vary from year to year.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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INDG 300 Topics in Indigenous Studies 2 (3 credits)
Overview
INDG : This course is designed to examine specific themes and topics in Indigenous Studies. Possible examples: Haudenosaunee governance etc. Topics vary from year to year.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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INDG 301 Indigenous Contemporary Resistance (3 credits)
Overview
INDG : In-depth and experiential examination of contemporary Indigenous resistance movements based on Indigenous worldviews and land-based knowledge.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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INDG 302 Introduction to Kanien鈥檏茅:ha (3 credits)
Overview
INDG : Foundations of the Kanien'k茅:ha language and Haudenosaunee worldviews, including reading and speaking basic Kanien'k茅:ha, using key words and phrases to communicate basic needs, and the noun-based morphology and grammatical structure of the language.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Mittelstaedt, Mitchell (Fall)
Restrictions: Not open to students who have taken INDG 202 when topic was "Introduction to Kanien'k茅:ha".
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INDG 400 Seminar: Indigenous Studies (3 credits)
Overview
INDG : This advanced course is designed to examine specific topics and themes in Indigenous Studies. Possible examples: Indigenous research methodologies. Topics vary from year to year.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Austin, David (Winter)
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INDG 420 Indigenous Food Sovereignty (3 credits)
Overview
INDG : Examination of food sovereignty as it relates to First Nation, Inuit, and M茅tis and their connection to the land as sustenance. The focus is on natural food sources and practices.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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INDG 450 Rotinonhs贸n:ni Land-Based Pedagogy (3 credits)
Overview
INDG : The teachings of land, Ohen:ton Karihw谩tehkwen (Words before all Else) as well as stories that engage in the multiple tenets of Indigenous land-based education. Land-based practices and Indigenous literature. Participation is based on the values of Sk茅n鈥檔en (peace), Kahsatst茅nhsera (united strength), Ka'nikonhr铆:io (good mind).
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Interdisciplinary Field Course
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IDFC 500 Indigenous Field Studies (3 credits)
Overview
IDFC : Intensive field course that focuses on First Nations, M茅tis and Inuit cultures and worldviews, with particular emphasis on linkages to practice areas and integration across disciplinary silos. Attention is given to the effects of Canadian legal, health and social welfare policies on contemporary First Nations, M茅tis and Inuit societies.
Terms: Summer 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Restrictions: The course is only open to students in Social Work, Anthropology, Law and Medicine or by permission of the instructor. Not open to students who have taken IDFC 380.
This intensive course includes 1 week where students live in the field. The field portion of the course may involve rugged field conditions and varying weather for which students must be prepared and equipped.
A fee of $434.21 is charged to all students registered in IDFC 500 delivered in Montreal. The fee covers food, activities, land use, and other site expenses.
**This course will be held on May 5, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 and June 2nd.
Law
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CMPL 500 Indigenous Peoples and the State (3 credits)
Overview
Comparative Law : Current legal topics relating to Indigenous peoples, including the concept of Indigenous title, and constitutional aspects of contemporary land claims. Aspects of Canadian law relating to Indigenous peoples, their constitutional status, and hunting and fishing rights.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Sloan, Kerry (Winter)
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CMPL 500D1 Indigenous Peoples and the State (1.5 credits)
Overview
Comparative Law : Current legal topics relating to Indigenous peoples, including the concept of Indigenous title, and constitutional aspects of contemporary land claims. Aspects of Canadian law relating to Indigenous peoples, their constitutional status, and hunting and fishing rights.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Students must register for both CMPL 500D1 and CMPL 500D2.
No credit will be given for this course unless both CMPL 500D1 and CMPL 500D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
CMPL 500D1 and CMPL 500D2 together are equivalent to CMPL 500
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CMPL 500D2 Indigenous Peoples and the State (1.5 credits)
Overview
Comparative Law : See CMPL 500D1 for course description.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Prerequisite: CMPL 500D1
No credit will be given for this course unless both CMPL 500D1 and CMPL 500D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
CMPL 500D1 and CMPL 500D2 together are equivalent to CMPL 500
Linguistics
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LING 211 Introduction to Indigenous Languages (3 credits)
Overview
Linguistics : Explores the Indigenous languages of North America, including their histories, linguistic properties, cultural settings, and key social issues facing them in the 21st century. Many different aspects of North American languages will be discussed including sound systems, grammatical classification, expression of time and space, and specialized linguistic phenomena like polysynthesis and reduplication. Social contexts of language will include performance, speech games, language change, language endangerment, and government policies.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Crippen, James (Winter)
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LING 411 Structure of an Indigenous Language (3 credits)
Overview
Linguistics : Investigates linguistic and grammatical properties in an Indigenous language or language family of North America. Topics covered include: phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics; historical and comparative research; as well as topics at the intersection of language and culture. The course engages with primary literature on the language of study.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: Coon, Jessica (Fall) Crippen, James (Winter)
Political Science
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POLI 372 Indigenous Peoples and the Canadian State.
(3 credits)
Overview
Political Science : The relationship of Indigenous politics to larger debates and literatures within political science, such as citizenship theory, federalism, and collective action. Subjects covered include Canada's treaty history, constitutional changes, key policy frameworks, and Indigenous political development.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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POLI 436 Aboriginal Rights in the Canadian Constitution (3 credits)
Overview
Political Science : This course explores the inclusion, impact, and interpretation of s.35 of the Constitution Act, 1982. In s.35, "the existing aboriginal and treaty rights of the aboriginal peoples of Canada are hereby recognized and affirmed". What does it mean for Canada to recognize, affirm, define, justify, and implement such rights? The course sets out how one might think about the constitutional promise of s.35, and challenges us to address whether this promise has been realized. It sets out how s.35 has structured Indigenous-settler politics since 1982.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Scholtz, Christa (Winter)
Note: The field is Canadian Politics
