BC First Peoples 12
This course focuses on the history, culture, art and political situation of BC’s First Peoples population. This 7 module course focuses on the history, culture, art and political situation of BC’s First Peoples population.
Assessment is in the form of discussions, projects and module tests.
Module 1 – Territories
At the heart of the traditional Indigenous people’s world view is a profound respect for life and the natural world from which life springs. This respect is central to maintaining spiritual, emotional, physical, and mental equilibrium between all persons, and between humans and nature. In Module 1, you will explore the traditional and modern relationship of Indigenous people to the land.
Module 2 – Traditions
In Module 2, you will learn about traditions. You will examine the oral traditions of First Nations culture. You will see how it is a vital part of how information and knowledge is passed from one generation to the next.
Module 3 – Exchanges
B.C. First Nations groups relied upon the environment and resources from the area in which they lived in order to survive. Indigenous people were self-sufficient using resources available locally or through trade. Trade was an important activity for many B.C. First Nations people; very strong relationships were built amongst various communities both near and far. The trade system established amongst B.C. First Nations groups is said to be the most complex of all Indigenous trading systems in North America. In Module 3, you will learn about these systems.
Module 4 – Media and the Arts
While Indigenous people are using the media effectively to express and strengthen their culture, the media and representations of Indigenous people in it can also be a problem. You will learn more about this in this module.
Module 5 – Governance
In this module, you will learn about traditional systems of governance, and how contact interrupted those systems and imposed a European-based system of government on Indigenous people.
Module 6 – Policies and Responses
In Module 6, you will learn about how policies of the Canadian government have affected Indigenous people, and what the responses to the policies have been.
Module 7 – Challenges and the Way Forward
Indigenous people in Canada have faced many challenges brought by colonization over the last several hundred years, and have found many ways to overcome these challenges. In this module, you will learn a bit more about those challenges, and Indigenous responses to them.
Assessment:
- First Assignment – 10%
- Discussions – 20%
- Module Quizzes – 20%
- Module Projects – 50%