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First Nations Studies Program | Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
¶¡ÏãÔ°AV Calendar 2012 Spring

This program studies traditional and contemporary issues involving aboriginal peoples of North America and Canada in particular. Designed for both First Nations and non-First Nations students, its focus is on First Nations traditional cultures, languages, indigenous knowledge and histories as well as Indian-White relations, the development of federal and provincial policy toward aboriginal peoples, aboriginal rights and title questions, economic development and self-government. The minor critically presents and examines these issues with the perspectives of aboriginal peoples, and will present research methods pertinent to past, present and future issues affecting aboriginal peoples. In this respect, it is especially relevant for First Nations students who wish to put knowledge of First Nations/aboriginal issues and research skills to practice when serving their communities and nations.

This program may be completed in conjunction with any major or honours bachelor’s degree, or with a bachelor of general studies degree. It is expected that First Nations studies courses will be taught by faculty with appointments in First Nations or joint appointments in First Nations and other disciplines.

Program Requirements

Lower Division Requirements

Students complete at least nine units including

• FNST 101 The Cultures, Languages and Origins of Canada's First Peoples (3)
• FNST 201 Canadian Aboriginal Peoples' Perspectives on History (3)

and at least one course from

• ARCH 200 Special Topics in World Prehistory (3)
• ARCH 223 The Prehistory of Canada (3)
• BISC 272 Special Topics in Biology (3)
• FNLG 231 Introduction to First Nations Language I (3)
• FNLG 232 Introduction to First Nations Language II (3)
• FNST 212 Indigenous Perceptions of Landscape (3)
• FNST 222 Selected Topics in First Nations Studies (3)
• LING 160 Language, Culture and Society (3)
• SA 286 Aboriginal Peoples and British Columbia: Introduction (A) (4)

STAT 203 (or equivalent) and SA 255 (or equivalent course in research methods) are strongly recommended.

Other courses which have First Nations content may be applied toward the minor as an elective, subject to approval by the program director.

At least 15 upper division units are required, including at least six units from the following.

Upper Division Requirements

• FNST 301 Issues in Applied First Nations Studies Research (3)
• FNST 401 Aboriginal Rights and Government Relations (3)
• FNST 402 The Discourse of Native Peoples (3)
• FNST 403 Indigenous Knowledge in the Modern World (3)

Students must also complete at least nine units from

• ARCH 332 Special Topics in Archaeology I † (3)
• ARCH 333 Special Topics in Archaeology II † (3)
• ARCH 360 Native Cultures of North America (5)
• ARCH 378 Pacific Northwest North America (3)
• ARCH 386 Archaeological Resource Management (3)
• ARCH 479 Directed Readings † (3)
• FNLG 331 Description and Analysis of a First Nations Language I (3)
• FNLG 332 Description and Analysis of a First Nations Language II (3)
• FNST 301 Issues in Applied First Nations Studies Research †† (3)
• FNST 322 Special Topics in First Nations Studies (3)
• FNST 325 History of Aboriginal Peoples of North America to 1850 † (4) or
• HIST 325 History of Aboriginal Peoples of North America to 1850 † (4)
• FNST 326 History of Aboriginal Peoples of North America Since 1850 † (4) or
• HIST 326 History of Aboriginal Peoples of North American Since 1850 † (4)
• FNST 327 Aboriginal Women in Canada † (4) or
• GSWS 327 Aboriginal Women in Canada † (4)
• FNST 329 Sexuality and Gender: Indigenous Perspectives (3)
• FNST 332 Ethnobotany of British Columbia First Nations (3)
• FNST 360 Popular Writing by Indigenous Authors † (4) or
• ENGL 360 Popular Writing by Indigenous Authors † (4)
• FNST 363 Indigenous Poetry, Poetics, Printmaking (4)
• FNST 376 Indigenous Weaving Technologies: Community of Beings (4)
• FNST 383 Indigenous Technology: Art and Sustainability (4)
• FNST 401 Aboriginal Rights and Government Relations (3)
• FNST 402 The Discourse of Native Peoples (3)
• FNST 403 Indigenous Knowledge in the Modern World (3)
• FNST 419 Aboriginal/Indigenous Justice † (3) or
• CRIM 419 Aboriginal/Indigenous Justice † (3)
• FNST 429 Indigenous Peoples and International Law † (3) or
• CRIM 429 Indigenous Peoples and International Law † (3)
• FNST 433 Indigenous Environmental Activism (4)
• FNST 442 Directed Readings in First Nations Studies (3)
• FNST 443 Aboriginal Peoples, History and the Law (4) or
• HIST 443 Aboriginal People's, History and the Law (4)
• FNST 462 Indigenous Oral Testimony: Theory, Practice, Purpose, Community (4)
• LING 430 Native American Languages (3)
• LING 431 Language Structures I ††† (3)
• LING 432 Language Structures II ††† (3)
• SA 386 The Ethnography of Politics (S or A) (4)
• SA 388 Comparative Studies of Minority Indigenous Peoples (S or A) (4)

† only one of the two courses may be used
†† may be completed more than once when offered as a different topic
††† preferably in the same language in both courses

Other courses with First Nations content may be applied toward the minor as electives, subject to approval by the program director. Credit accumulated in the certificate in First Nations studies research may be applied toward the minor in First Nations studies.

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Requirements

In addition to the above requirements, students must also satisfy Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences requirements

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