IND-3025 Introduction to Indigenous Studies - 10 stp

The course is mandatory in the Master's Programme in Indigenous Studies (MIS). It can also be taken as a singular course by exchange students and students from other programmes.

As this is an on-campus programme, students are expected to be present in Tromsø.

The course offers an introduction to indigenous studies. It takes as a starting point the university's location in Arctic Sápmi, and introduces indigenous studies from a comparative global perspective. In addition, the course addresses the emergence and spread of the international indigenous movement and society.

The course starts with an overview and a thematic conceptualisation of the study field. The lectures introduce indigenous peoples' diverse realities and historical experiences from a comparative perspective. They also offer different ways of doing indigenous research, theoretically and methodologically. The multidisciplinary basis of the programme is reflected in the course.

An exercise in practical methods is required coursework. A short field exercise is offered at the beginning of the course.

Students who complete the course should have achieved the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge

• to have a broad understanding of the historical and contemporary situation of indigenous peoples globally;
• to be aware of the general history of the international indigenous movement;
• to use multidisciplinary approaches to analyse issues pertaining to the indigenous world.

Skills

• to be able to compare the challenges and achievements of indigenous peoples in different historical and contemporary contexts;
• to analyse and deal critically with different concepts of indigeneity;
• to have an overview of current theories and methods in the field of indigenous studies.

Competence

• to apply basic knowledge in research on indigenous issues;
• to engage in critical discussions on relevant academic literature within humanities and social sciences.