First Nations Courses
First Nations Studies Program | Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
間眅埶AV Calendar 2012 Spring
The following are all the courses offered in this area. To view the current course catalog and/or course schedule on the Student Information System, visit (select "Class Search/Course Schedule" on the left menu).
FNST 101-3 The Cultures, Languages and Origins of Canada's First Peoples
An introduction to the nature and goals of First Nations studies as an academic discipline; survey of prehistory, traditional cultures and aboriginal languages of Canada's First Nations. Breadth-Humanities/Social Sciences
FNST 201-3 Canadian Aboriginal Peoples' Perspectives on History
An examination of fact and ideology in history and historic events involving contact between native and European peoples. The course will also address questions of research methodologies in studying Native/European relations, such as the evaluation of oral history and written ethnohistoric sources. An additional focus will be on gender as it influences perspectives. Breadth-Social Sci.
FNST 212-3 Indigenous Perceptions of Landscape
Indigenous peoples of North America possess perceptions of landscape rooted in their long history with the land. Using methods and theories designed for anthropology, archaeology, land and resource management planning and geography will bring a multi-disciplinary approach to this study of cultural landscapes. Prerequisite: FNST 101 or 201.
FNST 222-3 Selected Topics in First Nations Studies
Topics will vary from term to term depending on faculty availability and student interest where the body of work may not otherwise be covered in-depth in regular courses. Prerequisite: three units in First Nations Studies.
FNST 301-3 Issues in Applied First Nations Studies Research
Involves a survey and examination of method, theory and related topics associated with contemporary First Nations Studies research in applied contexts. Ethical conduct and protocols for working within First Nations communities are reviewed. Prerequisite: FNST 101 or 201 or by permission of the department.
FNST 322-3 Special Topics in First Nations Studies
Prerequisite: will vary according to the topic.
FNST 325-4 History of Aboriginal Peoples of North America to 1850
Examines selected themes in the history of Aboriginal peoples of North America from first contact with Europeans to the mid-nineteenth century. Prerequisite: 45 units including FNST 101 or 201. FNST 325 and HIST 325 are identical and students may not take both courses for credit.
FNST 326-4 History of Aboriginal Peoples of North America Since 1850
Examines selected themes in the history of Aboriginal peoples of North America in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Prerequisite: 45 units including FNST 101 or 201. FNST 326 and HIST 326 are identical and students may not take both courses for credit.
FNST 327-4 Aboriginal Women in Canada
Themes and issues relating to the historical and contemporary experiences of aboriginal women in Canada: indigenous theories of gender; evolution and political function of stereotypes of indigenous women in Canada; history of Canadian legislation regulating indigenous identity; relevance of feminist analysis; and history of activism. Prerequisite: 45 units. Students who have taken FNST 322 under this topic may not take this course for further credit. FNST 327 and GSWS 327 (or WS 327) are identical and students may not take both courses for credit.
FNST 329-3 Sexuality and Gender: Indigenous Perspectives
Examines written works on sexuality and gender including the history of representations of the sexualized savage; the discussion of indigenous concepts of gender, including discussions of two-spirit versus gay identity; homophobia and sexual violence as tools of colonization; the emancipatory potential of erotica. Prerequisite: 45 units. Students who have taken FNST 322 may not take this course for further credit.
FNST 332-3 Ethnobotany of British Columbia First Nations
This course is an introduction to the study of plant knowledge and use by First Nations peoples in British Columbia. It provides students with information about the role of plants in First Nations' cultures including such areas as foods, medicines, technology, ceremony, ecological indicators, and within First Nations' knowledge and classification systems. Special focus may be placed on the ethnobotany of one or more Aboriginal groups or culture areas. Prerequisite: FNST 101 or by permission of the department.
FNST 360-4 Popular Writing by Indigenous Authors
Examines works of popular fiction by indigenous authors and their use of specific genres (e.g. the mystery novel, vampire thriller, sci fi, comic book). Prerequisite: 45 units. Students who have taken FNST 322 under this topic may not take this course for further credit. ENGL 360 and FNST 360 are identical and students may not take both courses for credit.
FNST 363-4 Indigenous Poetry, Poetics, Printmaking
Examines various art forms and aesthetic expressions of select indigenous peoples of the Americas including aboriginal poetry and poetic forms. A research and creation studio course. Prerequisite: 45 units; no previous artistic training and/or experience are required. Students who have taken this course under FNST 322 under the topic 'Poetics/Poetry: Bookmaking' or 'Indigenous Expressive Arts' may not take this course for further credit.
FNST 376-4 Indigenous Weaving Technologies: Community of Beings
Studio seminar with intensive practice through significant weaving projects. Uses diverse techniques (tool making and loom building) and materials such as grasses, tree withes, wool, twine and synthetics to reflect upon ecosystem relevance, sustainability, and cosmology in specific First Nations and indigenous communities. A minimum of 12 additional hours per week for project work is required. Prerequisite: 45 units including one FNST course
FNST 383-4 Indigenous Technology: Art and Sustainability
Examines various art forms and aesthetic expressions of select indigenous peoples of the Americas. Reviews techniques and protocols for the gathering and preparation of materials and the use of ethnographic materials, and provides learning through hands-on practice. Prerequisite: 45 units and permission of instructor; no previous artistic training and/or experience is required. Students who have taken this course as FNST 322 under the topic 'Indigenous Expressive Arts' with a focus in crafts may not take this course for further credit.
FNST 401-3 Aboriginal Rights and Government Relations
An examination of First Nations and aboriginal peoples' perspectives on political, social and legal issues involving their rights as first citizens of Canada and North America, and the practical and political relations with various levels of government. Issues examined include: aboriginal rights and title questions, self government models and concepts, constitutional matters, the impact of federal government policies, including their impact on women's lives, and native community and First Nations politics. Prerequisite: FNST 101 and 201. Recommended: POL 221.
FNST 402-3 The Discourse of Native Peoples
Style and content of aboriginal people's discourse about their culture, world view, history and matters affecting their lives. Includes the analysis of selections from native oral literature, autobiography, expository writing, modern poetry and fiction. Prerequisite: FNST 101 and 201.
FNST 403-3 Indigenous Knowledge in the Modern World
This course explores the subject of traditional indigenous knowledge and its contemporary implications for First Nations programs in such areas as economic development, ecotourism, spiritualism, language retention, biodiversity, ethnoscience, environmentalism, and heritage conservation. First Nations perspectives on patents, copyrights, and other creative products from traditional culture will also be examined through lecture, guest speakers and seminar presentation. Prerequisite: FNST 201 or by permission of the department.
FNST 419-3 Aboriginal/Indigenous Justice
An in-depth examination of Aboriginal/indigenous conceptions of justice in dealing with crime and other trouble in indigenous communities, and in relations among peoples. Prerequisite: FNST 101 or 201, or CRIM 101, or permission of the instructor. Students who took this course as CRIM 416 or 418 may not take this course for further credit. FNST 419 and CRIM 419 are identical and students cannot take both courses for credit.
FNST 429-3 Indigenous Peoples and International Law
An examination of how relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples framed and were framed by the development of international law from the 15th century onward. Prerequisite: FNST 101 or 201, or CRIM 101, or permission of instructor. Students who have taken this course under CRIM 416-3 or 418-3 under the title "Indigenous Peoples and International Law" or "Indigenous Peoples and Evolving International Relations" may not take this course for further credit. FNST 429 and CRIM 429 are identical and students may not take both courses for credit.
FNST 433-4 Indigenous Environmental Activism
Examines contemporary writings regarding indigenous environmental logic and environmental concerns of contemporary times. Studies effects of resource extraction upon indigenous nations, globalization, genetic modifications, health, intellectual property, spiritual beliefs, culture and society, art and language and compares these with specific indigenous logic at the time of contact. Prerequisite: 45 units.
FNST 442-3 Directed Readings in First Nations Studies
Directed readings for upper level students in First Nations Studies who wish to study selected topics in depth. Prerequisite: nine units in First Nations Studies. Corequisite: permission of an instructor and program chair. Variable units 2, 3, 4, 5.
FNST 443-4 Aboriginal Peoples, History and the Law
Traces the development of legal doctrine pertaining to Aboriginal peoples in Canada and the United States, including its shared roots in British colonial law and policy. Prerequisite: 45 units including FNST 101, 201 and one other FNST course; or permission of the instructor. FNST 443 and HIST 443 are identical and students may not take both courses for credit. Students who have taken HIST 485 or 486 under this topic may not take this course for further credit.
FNST 462-4 Indigenous Oral Testimony: Theory, Practice, Purpose, Community
Examines protocol, theory, responsibility, issues of domain (including inherent rights) involving traditional oral testimony, storytelling, oral narrative in an aboriginal/Nation-centric canon. Compares aboriginal canon 'oral record' to aboriginal individual first-person accounts. Prerequisite: 60 units including Prerequisite: FNST 101: The Cultures, Languages and Origins of Canada's First Peoples or Prerequisite: FNST 201: Canadian Aboriginal Peoples' Perspectives on History and Prerequisite: permission of the instructor