¥������

Indigenous research is a dynamic, collaborative and rapidly expanding field of study and practice. This course invites students to explore and apply their growing understandings of the relationship between Indigenous research and community engagement through an in-depth review of relevant literature, independent study and group work, critical engagement, and experiential learning. This course a theoretical, conceptual and applied exploration of Indigenous approaches to conducting research and engages in topics dealing with ideological, socio-cultural -political, and ethical issues that inform Indigenous Land-centered (capital “L”) research and community engagement across various landscapes, community, and educational contexts including but not limited to philosophies, frameworks, protocols, and practices. This course also examines specific topics such as research ownership, process and outcomes framed around the 5 R’s (relationship, respect, relevance, reciprocity and responsibility) in relation to Indigenous research from Land-centred and place-specific philosophical contexts. The course also includes an exploration of the governance by Indigenous communities of their own research and ethical review processes. In relation to developing culturally relevant, responsive and emergent research processes we will explore some of the various ways to do research and engage respectfully and meaningful with Indigenous communities. Educators, researchers, and professional practitioners will come away with enhanced critical thinking skills and active engagement with the issues concerning emergent, responsive, and respectful Indigenous research and community engagement through discussions and hands-on learning opportunities in both urban and rural contexts. There is a particular emphasis placed on philosophical nature of Land in relation to Indigenous research and community engagement together with constructions of the self in relationship to diverse research contexts. This course uses relevant research articles, activities, and various forms of media to foster an understanding of the pertinent literature and to assist students in engaging with some of the realities that face both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people across Turtle Island as they endeavour to engage in respectful and meaningful research. The course brings together a variety of decolonizing and anti-oppressive approaches to understanding the contexts of doing research so that educators, researchers and professional practitioners will come away with a better understanding of Indigenous research and the issues affecting insider/outsider researchers, as well as some better tools that can help develop and implement more inclusive, meaningful, fulfilling, and culturally relevant research in both urban and rural contexts and places both within Turtle Island and across the great waters. The course will explore understandings of what it means to conduct research with Indigenous peoples on the issues of pressing concern to communities across diverse contexts and asks what it means to decolonize research. It will also apply socio-cultural and socio-political frameworks to both theoretical and applied issues.