This course will provide students with an introduction to the field of Indigenous Studies. Topics covered include Indigenous histories, cultural expressions, 'Indian' stereotypes, treaty statuses and continuing challenges to Indigenous nationhood. We will highlight research, education, and practical applications of knowledge, as well as ongoing Indigenous presence and relevance. [Core Curriculum Goal Area(s) 5 & 7] [Nisidotaading Course Requirement]
Common Course Outline

INST 1202 Indigenous Environmental Current Events (3 credits)

This course is designed to prepare students to critically engage with various media and academic sources reporting on Indigenous environmental issues and events. Students will analyze important issues such as global climate change, environmental pollution, deforestation, and pipelines. Students will understand these issues in the context of treaty rights and social justice. Students will also learn relevant aspects of traditional ecological knowledge and Indigenous sustainability practices. [Core Curriculum Goal Area(s) 5] [Nisidotaading Course Requirement]
Common Course Outline

INST 2201 Creation to Contact (3 credits)

This course spans the early history of Indigenous peoples from Creation to Contact. This course is designed to provide students with a literary, historical, and philosophical understanding of the orientations and worldviews of some Indigenous people in the Americas. This knowledge will inform students¿ understanding of the challenges that Indigenous peoples face in regard to the social, economic, political, and religious policies and practices of colonial societies in later times. [Core Curriculum Goal Area(s) 5 & 7].[Nisidotaading Course Requirement]
Common Course Outline

INST 2202 Survivance Since Contact (3 credits)

This course engages with the history of Indigenous peoples from Contact to the present day. This course is designed to provide students with a literary, historical, and philosophical understanding of the orientations and worldviews of some Indigenous people in the Americas. This knowledge will inform students¿ understanding of the possibilities for Indigenous resurgence now and in the future. [Core Curriculum Goal Area(s) 5 & 7] [Nisidotaading Course Requirement]
Common Course Outline

INST 2410 Ojibwe Crafts (2 credits)

An introduction to the Ojibwe crafts in relation to their culture. Demonstration, instruction and studio experience in basketmaking, hide tanning, the making of leather goods, beading, jewelry making and quilting. [Nisidotaading Course Requirement]
Common Course Outline

INST 2925 People of the Environment: Indigenous Knowledge Perspective (3 credits)

This course is designed to provide students with the ability to integrate Indigenous Studies with Environmental Studies. An in-depth focus will cover how environmental practices affect Indigenous cultures. Students will have the opportunity to explore their own understanding of Indigenous and Environmental Studies and develop strategies that will enable them to view both disciplines interdependent of one another. [Core Curriculum Goal Area 10]; [Nisidotaading Course Requirement]
Common Course Outline

INST 3170 Indigenous Education (3 credits)

This course examines the history of educational practices in the U.S. including the role of compulsory education, used as a tool of cultural genocide, historically intended to forcibly assimilate Indigenous people into colonial norms, values, and knowledge systems. Despite this, Indigenous communities have reclaimed education to serve their own interests, utilizing innovative practices and drawing upon traditional knowledge systems to create learning environments that promote academic achievement while maintaining their own cultures. This class looks at the experiences of Indigenous peoples in educational institutions, and how their skills have been applied to Indigenous nation building efforts as well as teacher education beyond Indigenous territories. [Core Curriculum Goal Area(s) 5 & 7]; [Nisidotaading Course Requirement]
Common Course Outline

INST 3307 Ojibwe History (3 credits)

This course examines Ojibwe history with special attention to their origins, lands, leadership values, and the resistance to racism and oppression. Students will learn about the unique political status of the Ojibwe, the impacts of colonialism, treaty rights, and the continuing challenges the Ojibwe face as nations and as a people. [Core Curriculum Goal Area(s) 5 & 7]; Nisidotaading Course Requirement Course Requirement]
Common Course Outline

INST 3317 Tribal Government and Leadership (3 credits)

This course is designed to provide students with a deeper understanding of traditional, transitional, and contemporary tribal governments based on the experiences of the Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) in Minnesota and other tribes. [Nisidotaading Course Requirement]
Common Course Outline

INST 3410 Advanced Ojibwe Crafts (1-4 credits)

Advanced study of American Indian craft media techniques and concepts geared to meet the needs of individual students and to help them develop personal direction. May be repeated for a total of 6 credits. Prerequisite: INST/VSAR 2410. [Nisidotaading Course Requirement]
Common Course Outline

INST 3710 Indigenous Environmental Knowledge: Global Perspective (3 credits)

Indigenous cultures refer to pre-colonial societies who today represent a minority, non-dominant group in the societies presently residing in territories these cultures once developed. Throughout their history, Indigenous people have developed their own body of environmental knowledge that they have passed on, generation to generation. This course will provide students with a global perspective of Indigenous environmental knowledge and how this knowledge has affected the relationship of the Indigenous peoples with the natural world and its resources. Students will also investigate present-day political, economic, social, and technological issues related to incorporating Indigenous environmental knowledge into sustainability efforts. [**Core Curriculum Goal Area(s) 7 & 8]; [Nisidotaading Course Requirement] (Also offered under ENVR 3710)
Common Course Outline

INST 3720 Food Sovereignty, Health & Indigenous Environments (3 credits)

This course is designed to help students understand the interconnections of food sovereignty, health and environmental sustainability. Students will explore why it is not only important for people to control the way their food is produced, distributed, and consumed but why the food should be appropriate to the cultural background of the people consuming it. Students will learn the critical connections between food and health with an exploration of those influences within the context of Indigenous worldviews and ways of knowing. This is an experiential learning course -- learning through interaction, projects, and reflection. This course may be suitable as an elective in Indigenous Studies and Environmental Studies, Health and Nursing degree programs. [Nisidotaading Course Requirement] (Also offered under ENVR 3720)
Common Course Outline

INST 3730 Sustainable Communities: Local Indigenous Perspective (3 credits)

Human societies all across the globe have developed rich sets of experiences and explanations relating to the sustainable communities they live, work and play in. This course is designed to introduce students to the basic concepts of these sustainable communities. Students will learn how these communities function, their challenges, and the critical networks that exist with the environment. This class will explore the role of Indigenous knowledge and traditional ways of learning, as well as scientific knowledge in maintaining the sustainability of a community. This is an experiential learning course -- learning through interaction, projects, and reflection. [Nisidotaading Course Requirement] (Also offered under ENVR 3730)
Common Course Outline

INST 3740 Environment, Wellness & the Sacred Connection to Place (3 credits)

In Indigenous communities, there is a deep and lasting connection to place. Today, there exists overwhelming evidence that connection to place offers important elements for overall individual wellness. However, many communities face challenges in their environments that are detrimental to their health and well-being. To support these communities, there is a need to reconnect them with ways to restore the sustainability of their environment and connection to place. In this course, students will learn the critical connections between the environment and health and will explore the influences of connection to place within the context of Indigenous worldviews and ways of knowing. This is an experiential learning course -- learning through interaction, projects, and reflection. [Nisidotaading Course Requirement] (Also offered under ENVR 3740)
Common Course Outline

INST 3750 Sustainable Communities: Global Indigenous Perspective (3 credits)

Throughout their history, Indigenous people have developed their own body of knowledge on global sustainability that they have passed on, generation to generation. This course will provide students with a large picture perspective of global Indigenous sustainability knowledge and viewpoints and how this perspective continues to affect the relationship of the Indigenous peoples with the natural world and its resources. Students will also investigate present-day global political, economic, social, and technological issues related to incorporating Indigenous views into sustainability efforts across the continents. (Also offered under ENVR 3750)
Common Course Outline

INST 3888 Indigenous Women Writers (3 credits)

This course will focus on Indigenous Women Writers across a number of genres. Each work will be read alongside nonfiction sources that provide glimpses into the social, historical, political, or cultural background for its production. Some of them will also be accompanied by selections of literary or critical analysis drawing on these texts. This class focuses on the scope and possibilities of Indigenous feminist literary criticism for tracing connections among history, creative expression, and contemporary Indigenous existences. [Core Curriculum Goal Area(s) 6 & 7]; [Nisidotaading Course Requirement Course Requirement]
Common Course Outline

INST 3890 Genealogy and Clan Systems (3 credits)

This course is designed to provide students with a hands-on experience with individual genealogical research and family tree development. In addition, the genealogical information may be used in conjunction with identifying specific tribal clans that are unique to each individual and their specific tribal history. An academic and cultural overview of how clan systems work is part of the course design. [Nisidotaading Course Requirement]
Common Course Outline

INST 4000 Nation Building and Leadership (3 credits)

This course provides students with an opportunity to analyze leadership, values, and diverse strategies for Indigenous nation building through the lenses of development, Indigenous philosophies, and sustainability. Prerequisites: INST 1107, and INST 2201 or INST 2202, and INST 3307 or INST 3317, or professor permission. [Nisidotaading Course Requirement]
Common Course Outline

INST 4207 Indigenous Lifeways (3 credits)

This class examines how Indigenous knowledge systems are embodied and expressed, and what can be the result when people with conflicting knowledge systems interact with one another. Through readings, discussions, lectures, films, group work, and other course assignments, we'll consider Indigenous knowledge systems and worldviews with a particular eye toward how these ideas are related to geographic space, relationships, values, economics, language, and story. Prerequisite(s): Junior or senior standing or by consent of instructor.[Nisidotaading Course Requirement]
Common Course Outline

INST 4418 Federal Indian Law (3 credits)

This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of the modern complexities of Federal Indian Law. Students will read landmark cases in Federal Indian Law and analyses of Federal Indian Law by experts. The focus of the term will be on the evolving relationships within US treaty federalism. [Nisidotaading Course Requirement]
Common Course Outline

INST 4900 Social Justice (3 credits)

This course examines steps that individuals and societies must take to create a more just society. Students will learn how to identify and address unequal power relations, marginalization, and racism and engage in skillful interactions that enable them to maintain their integrity within society. Prerequisite(s) Junior or senior standing or by consent of instructor. [Nisidotaading Course Requirement]
Common Course Outline

INST 4917 DIS Tchg Assoc | (1-2 credits)

Directed Independent Study | Teaching Associate
Common Course Outline

INST 4931 Experimental Course (3 credits)

A course proposed for inclusion in the University curriculum. May not be offered more than two times as an experimental course.
Common Course Outline