How can I learn more about Indigenous cultures and Reconciliation?

IS 110 - Truth Work of Reconciliation: Discussions and Implications for Settler Peoples (IS 110)

This course provides a journey of sharing and discussing how Indigenous and Settler peoples know each other through the stories that have been told of each other in the past and which continue in the present. These stories carry the ideologies, knowledge, beliefs, values and assumptions that form the basis of their interactions with one another. A critique of the notion of ‘Settler’ will be an ongoing dialogue. A discussion of the implications of oneself in these stories is discussed within the context of the reconciliation process that is underway in Canada.  

The course will include lively community engagement through readings, virtual meetings, discussion posts and videos all available online. 

Meet the instructor: 

Kelly Laurila is of Sáami Indigenous (Northern Finland) and Settler Irish ancestry. She is a Sundancer, songcarrier of an Indigenous women and girls’ drum circle for 14 years, facilitator of community outreach engagements of song and education pertaining to Indigenous/Settler relations, and facilitator of circle pedagogy and dialogues pertaining to Indigenous/Settler relations. In Fall 2018, Kelly successfully defended her doctoral dissertation pertaining to Indigenous/police relations and she is actively pursuing teaching opportunities within post-secondary education and with police services.

From her own journey of struggle to reconcile her Indigenous and Settler ancestry and close to 27 years of lived Anishinaabe experiences, Kelly has found a place of compassion that enables her to dialogue with Settler peoples. Learning about the history and ongoing injustices that Indigenous peoples experience is challenging and it can contradict the history that one has known in Canada. Kelly endeavours to create a space that encourages individuals to listen, understand, reflect, question, and imagine a way forward in the reconciliation process that is underway in Canada.

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Myth-Busting Part 1 & 2: Deconstructing Indigenous-Canadian Relationships (IS 101 & 102 - ONLINE)

This course is designed to give students the skills to begin to: 

• Immerse themselves in local Haudenosaunee history and teachings. 

• Familiarize themselves with the process of colonization and the impacts it has had on modern day myths regarding Indigenous peoples. 

• Deconstruct some concepts to assist in building better relationships as allies. 

• Use tools provided in course to actively engage in decolonization. 

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to: 

• Identify local Indigenous historical context for the Grand River watershed, specifically the Six Nations of the Grand River. 

• Understand a conceptual framework for colonization using the systems approach. 

• Identify best practices for allyship and decolonization. 

• Develop critical thinking skills when analyzing Canada’s history regarding Indigenous relationships. 

This course will be offered in two parts:

• Part One introduces Haudenosaunee history and traditional ecological knowledge, and explores the impact of colonization in Canada.  It will include online work and weekly virtual gatherings for discussion.
• Part Two digs deeper into issues introduced in Part One and focuses on building better relationships between Indigenous people and Canadians through allyship and reconciliation.  It will include online work and weekly virtual gatherings for discussion.

Meet the instructor: 

Michelle Thomas is a Seneca Bear Clan woman from Six Nations of the Grand River. She is passionate about creating opportunities for people to decolonize their minds. Michelle strives to create culturally appropriate training & facilitation by incorporating Haudenosaunee values into her work. This creates opportunities for education and positive dialogue. It is only through reclaiming your power, voice and purpose that you can make true change. This includes work within organizations, staff, and individuals. Personal and professional development includes the use of team-building, facilitation and interactive experiences, she creates opportunities for meaningful engagement within your circle. She carries a diverse background of education, sociology, business and healing and wellness. She has worked within the education, social, health, family violence prevention, addictions, and employment and training sectors.  Michelle is a certified Reiki Master, spirit painter and traditional healer.  

Fees

Course	Tuition fees
IS 110 - Reconciliation (8-weeks)	$290.00 (plus HST)
IS 101 - Myth-Busting Part 1 (6-weeks)	$215.00 (plus HST)
IS 102 - Myth-Busting Part 2 (6-weeks)	$215.00 (plus HST)

Other fees:

NOTE: beginning March 2023, Renison continuing education’s administrative fee will be incorporated into the total tuition price as listed above and will be charged to all registrants.

Cancellation, Withdrawal, and Refund Policy

• If a course is cancelled, the full tuition fee (inclusive of the administrative fee) will be refunded to students in full or they may defer their registration to the next term (deferrals can be made once).
• The one-time administration fee of $15.00 CAD is non-refundable unless the course is cancelled.

*The administrative fee applies to all students regardless of whether they have previously taken a Renison continuing education and/or Renison non-credit course previously.

• Students may withdraw from a course up until the registration deadline for a full tuition refund. After the registration deadline, students may withdraw up until the day before the second class and be refunded 80% of their tuition. After this date, refunds will not be issued.

Requests to withdraw should be sent in writing over e-mail to cape@uwaterloo.ca.

Register

Please complete an online registration form.

Once you have submitted your registration form, you will be contacted with further information about your course including course materials, instructor's contact information, and classroom location.

Pay

You can pay one of the following ways for your non-credit course:

1. Bank Payment

• Contact cape@uwaterloo.ca for your student ID number.
• Add Renison University College as a bill payment “payee”.
• Use your student ID number as the “account number”.  Please be very sure that you are using the correct student ID number.
• Allow 2-4 business days for your payment to reach Renison University College.
• If you post-date your payment, we will not be able to process it until the date of the payment. Late fees may apply.

2. Online via our Shopify page.

3. In-person at the Renison English Language Institute (REN 1930) (Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm). Payment methods accepted are: cash, cheque, money order, debit, Visa or MasterCard. 

Note: you must submit payment for your course prior to the course start date. Please also ensure that you pay the administration fee if this is your first non-credit course at Renison. In the case you do not submit payment, Renison University College will contact you directly.