Indigenous Studies
Major in Indigenous Studies
The interdisciplinary Indigenous Studies program offers courses that provide perspectives of Indigenous peoples from the Okanagan, Canada, and world communities. The involvement of the Okanagan nation and the En'owkin Centre in its development and in ongoing partnership provides a strong foundation in the Okanagan community and ensures continuing input from Indigenous perspectives.
Courses are offered at the second-year level in Okanagan and Amerindian Indigenous history and cultures. In the third and fourth years, courses in Indigenous governance, the justice system, land claims, traditional ecological knowledge, the protection of heritage, Indigenous theory, methodology, and research applications are offered. Students may complete their Major or Minor program by taking approved courses on Indigenous topics in other disciplines and faculties.
Students should meet with a program advisor from the Indigenous Studies program during their first year to plan their Major or Minor.
Requirements for the Indigenous Studies Major
The Indigenous Studies Major offers a Coursework Option and a Community Research Project Option. Students in the Coursework Option complete Indigenous Studies courses and approved courses from other disciplines and faculties.
The Community Research Project Option in the fourth year gives qualified students the opportunity to design individual research projects relevant to a particular Indigenous community or agency, and to implement the project working on-site in that community or agency.
First and Second Years
B.A. requirements, including the following:
- INDG 100;
- 6 credits from: INDG 201, 202, 203, 210;
- 3 credits from any introductory Social Science course.
Third and Fourth Years (Coursework Option)
- INDG 303, 401;
- 24 credits of 300- or 400-level Indigenous Studies courses; ANTH 304, 351, 354, 363, 409, 414, 422; ENGL 473; HIST 300, 301, 450, 452;
- An additional 6 credits from 200-, 300-, or 400-level Indigenous Studies courses.
Third and Fourth Years (Community Research Project Option)
- INDG 303, 401;
- INDG 402;
- 9 credits of 300- or 400-level Indigenous Studies courses; ANTH 304, 351, 354, 363, 409, 414, 422; ENGL 473; HIST 300, 301, 450, 452;
- An additional 6 credits from 200-, 300-, or 400-level Indigenous Studies courses.
Minor in Indigenous Studies
To complete a Minor in Indigenous Studies, students must accumulate no fewer than 30 credits in courses approved for the Indigenous Studies program (e.g., Indigenous Studies courses and approved courses from another discipline). At least 18 of these credits must be numbered 300 or above. Of the 18 upper-level credits required, 12 credits must be selected from Indigenous Studies courses, and the remaining 6 credits may be taken from Indigenous Studies courses or approved courses (ANTH 304, 351, 354, 363, 409, 414, 422; ENGL 473; HIST 300, 301, 450, 452). Students in the Minor program may not take the Community Research Project course, INDG 402.
