|
Indigenous Studies
Indigenous Studies certificate: Maps, Film, Rights and Land Claims
This intensive four-week, three-course, twelve-credit certificate offers students the opportunity to learn a range of conceptual and practical skills that are of direct relevance to the history, communication, implementation, and critique of rights, title, and land claims. It focuses on a range of representational practices, including, but not limited to, film, oral histories, documentaries, surveys and maps, and legal discourse analysis, and their importance to the Indigenous land and rights process generally, but with a focus on British Columbia and the lower Fraser Valley in particular.
Entrance requirements 1. The flexibility and freedom to participate fully in the certificate
program, including acceptance of daily day-long classes, ability to access and
participate in field trips, and a willingness to participate in group
activities. 2. A demonstrated link to an Aboriginal community (e.g., an
Aboriginal Band or Tribal Council, paralegal, or other involvement in land
claims) and/or a demonstrated interest in Aboriginal issues. 3. A
demonstrated ability to express her/himself clearly and coherently.
4. A
letter of intent that explains why the applicant wants to apply to the program
and which speaks to the admissions criteria listed above. 5.
BC secondary school graduation or equivalent or minimum 19 years of age before
first day of class.
Note: the prerequisites for HIST 399E, GEOG 300F, and HIST
396I will be waived for students admitted to this program.
How to apply
Submit the application fee along with your 51ÎÛÂþ application for admission form and all supporting documents to the Admissions and Records (A&R) office. Application forms are available from any A&R office or Student Services office. You can also print an application form from our website at www.ufv.ca/ar, or you can apply directly through the internet at .
Additional documents required for a complete application:
• proof of B.C. secondary school graduation or equivalent if you will not be 19 years of age by the start of the semester
• cover letter (with official transcript or resume) not exceeding two pages expressing interest, qualifications, current education and/or professional capacity or experience and your link to the Aboriginal community
• a one page (300 to 350 word) writing sample
The certificate is generally offered in May, but specific details regarding application deadline dates, exact certificate scheduling, location, etc., are regularly updated at .
Basis for admission decision
Applicants will be assessed according to the following criteria:
1. Interest in and motivation in learning about maps, films, rights, and their history and application to the resolution of Aboriginal land claims. (up to 20 points)
2. Willingness to commit to intensive in-class experience in a condensed four week period that includes external field trip requirements and conditions. (up to 10 points)
3. One-page writing sample (300 to 350 words) to demonstrate competency in English. (up to 10 points)
Note: Applicants must score 30 out of 40 for acceptance.
Subject to the assessment described above, students will be considered for admission to the certificate program on a first-come, first-served basis.
Fees and additional costs
See the Fees and Other Costs
section. In addition to the tuition and any ancillary costs that normally apply to credit courses taken at 51ÎÛÂþ, students should expect some incidental certificate-specific expenses for transportation to and from field sites, waterproof notebooks, per diem, etc.
Program outline
The certificate is normally offered in the early Summer session, but delivery is condensed into the first four weeks of the session, with the remainder of the session used by students for completion of assignments. Each component course is led by a separate faculty member (or members), but they will typically alternate with each other over the course of the certificate, and there will be some instances where days are shared. Schedules will be adjusted as required to facilitate practicum work, guest speaker appearances, visits to field sites, etc. The three constituent courses are as follows:
HIST 399E: Special topics in History I: Films, Histories, and Land (4 credits)
This course offers students an account and analysis of how film and historical writing have been used to make the invisible (the heritage and land use of First Nations) visible (films and texts created to reveal and explain Indigenous peoples' relationship to their lands and cultures). By critically evaluating film and text, students will learn about the challenges of land claims research, and how to enhance research methodologies developed to advance land rights and land claims processes in Canada and other parts of the world. The focus will be on the place of creative work in research.
GEOG 300F: Special Topics in Geography: Maps, Territories, and Land (4 credits)
This course introduces students to the conceptual and practical challenges of making maps to advance and support land claims in British Columbia. Students will learn about the history of First Nations cartography and way-finding in British Columbia and elsewhere, and how to use maps and other forms of spatial representation such as stories, songs, artefacts, blockades or occupancies, and the law to advance claims to territory in the modern period, and some of the perils and promises associated with these processes.
HIST 396I: Special Topics in North American History: Rights, Title, and Land (4 credits)
This course introduces students to the history of the Stó:lõ, their relations to land and resources, and rights, title, and land claims issues. Students will watch films, read texts, hear oral interviews and presentations, view maps, and tour the Stó:lõ cultural landscape as a 'thick' or 'embedded' way of learning about the Stó:lõ and the challenges facing them in their relationship with non-Native newcomers and government authorities. Stó:lõ rights and title issues involve local and broader histories of litigation, negotiation, direct action, and land/resource management. The course will challenge students to be creative in thinking of ways to understand, convey, and address rights and title issues, using a variety of methods and media.
Graduation requirements Graduation is based on the successful completion of all three courses in the certificate, with a minimum GPA of 2.0 across all three. The certificate is intensive and requires full commitment in class and in the field. Students are expected to follow appropriate protocols for educational and safety reasons. Students are expected to participate fully in field trips, meet project deadlines, and be willing to participate in a self-evaluation.
Any student completing the twelve credits with a 2.0 GPA or higher will be eligible to receive the certificate. Students may be able to use the certificate courses to satisfy requirements for the 51ÎÛÂþ Bachelor of Arts degree. Those wishing to apply credit towards other 51ÎÛÂþ bachelor degrees should check with their program advisor to determine applicability. Some may wish to take the certificate independently or any other credential, particularly at the post-graduate level, if they are involved in teaching or working in an area that requires knowledge of the field.
Course listings
|