Course Description:
Connect with Indigenous Knowledge Keepers to broaden your understanding of scientific perspectives and practice. This in-person course is taught at a traditional teaching lodge with Anishinaabe Knowledge Keepers using an on-the-land experiential learning model. You will have the opportunity to learn about medicines and traditional healing, and engage with the Indigenous learning principles of seeing, knowing and connecting with the world around you.
This is the University of Waterloo’s first on-the-land Indigenous experiential learning course and introduces students to the teachings and ceremonies of an Ontario Indigenous community. You will participate with and be evaluated by Elders and Indigenous instructors. We hope to bridge the work done on campus with the history of the land it is built on, fostering a personal connection to the territorial acknowledgments we hear every day.
Learning objectives:
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- recognize the value of exchange of ideas and perspectives,
- explain the importance of Indigenous practices of science, and
- describe the relationship between medicines and their uses.
Date:
- Four days, April 29 to May 2, 2025.
When to register:
- Register during course selection for Winter 2025 (September 20-30, 2024) or for Spring 2025 (late January).
- Only one session of this course will be offered. Winter and spring term registrants will participate together.
Cost:
- $500 per student, which includes food, accommodation and transportation.
Course details and requirements:
- Delivery mode is blended (asynchronous content will be made available in April prior to the in person dates).
- Land-based activities will require you to remain on the land for the entire four days.
- Attendance of all land-based events is mandatory. You will be making daily logbook reflections.
- You will be answering questions about your lessons and interacting with local instructors in discussion circles.
- You must receive a passing grade in all assessment categories.
- Final grades will be recorded as Credit Received (CR) or No Credit Received (NCR).
- If you have any questions about this field course, please contact Savannah Sloat, Manager, Science Indigenous Initiatives (savannah.sloat@uwaterloo.ca)