IRPS 360Politics of Indigenous Peoples

The Politics of Indigenous Peoples course concentrates on the interactions between indigenous and non-indigenous participants in global relations. Grounded in international/global relations theories, the course’s underlying premise is that aboriginal/indigenous peoples are distinct communities which exercise some form of self-determination, sovereignty or autonomy. While referencing historical events, this course focuses on contemporary indigenous peoples’ political activity primarily in regional and global contexts. Considerable attention is given to the mechanisms through which indigenous peoples pursue their physical and cultural survival, including their discourses with states, the United Nations, regional organizations such as the European Union and non-governmental organizations. Course goals encompass skill set development including writing/editing, reading comprehension/interpretation, critical thinking/analysis and problem-solving.