Courses

The First Nations and Indigenous Studies curriculum is based around a set of core courses which are requirements for the major and minor degrees. An integral part of the FNIS major is the opportunity to complete a research practicum with a local organization through FNIS 400. In addition to the core courses, students take approved courses in other departments to complete the requirements for the interdisciplinary major or minor.

If you have questions, please reach out to the instructor and/or cis.program@ubc.ca.

2023 Winter Session Courses

Click here for all relevant course information including directed studies and graduate sections, or refer to the SSC under 2023W.

The FNIS courses currently being offered during the 2023-2024 Winter session:

FNIS 100 (3) Indigenous Foundations

The historical, cultural, political, economic and legal issues that inform the experiences of Indigenous peoples in Canada, examined from both Indigenous and non-Indigenous perspectives. Credit will be granted for only one of FNIS 100, FNSP 100, or FNSP 200.
Instructor: Bernard Perley
Pre-req/co-req: none
Term: 1

FNIS 210 (3) Indigenous Politics and Self-Determination 

The cultural, historical, political, economic, and gender dynamics that structure the relationship between Indigenous peoples and the state in Canada; Indigenous self-determination struggles in relation to constitutional recognition, self-government, land claims, and economic development. Credit will be granted for only one of FNSP 200, FNIS 210, or FNSP 210.
Instructor: Pasang Sherpa
Pre-req/co-req: FNIS 100 recommended
Term: 1

FNIS 220 (3) Representation and Indigenous Cultural Politics

Representation, identity, and cultural politics through Indigenous literature, film, and the visual arts; the relationship between these sites of cultural production and the self-determination struggles of Indigenous peoples. Credit will be granted for only one of FNSP 200, FNIS 220, or FNSP 220.
Instructor: TBA
Pre-requisite: FNIS 100 recommended
Term: 2

FNIS 300 (3) Writing First Nations

A writing-intensive course examining approaches to writing Indigenous research: Representation and the Other; Indigenous critiques of research and representation; Indigenous, feminist and cultural studies approaches to writing ethnography, oral history, and related research methods. Credit will be granted for only one of FNIS 300 or FNSP 300.
Instructor: Alice Te Punga Somerville
Pre-requisite: Either a) FNSP 200 or b) all of FNIS 210, FNIS 220 or c) all of FNSP 210, FNSP 220
Term: 2

FNIS 310 (3) Critical Indigenous Theory Seminar

Adapting and integrating current conceptual paradigms in the humanities, social sciences, performing arts, and Indigenous studies into approaches in First Nations/Indigenous Studies, including identity construction, political and cultural self-determination, representation, essentialism/authenticity, ethics, and decolonization. Credit will be granted for only one of FNIS 310 or FNSP 310.
Instructor: Alice Te Punga Somerville
Pre-requisite: Either (a) FNSP 200 or (b) all of FNIS 210, FNIS 220 or (c) all of FNSP 210, FNSP 220.
Term: 1

FNIS 320 (3) Critical Indigenous Methodologies and Ethics

Responsible and community-based research from a critical Indigenous perspective; methods for identifying and assessing research materials, critical analysis, oral history/qualitative research interviewing and analysis, and research ethics in the design and implementation of community-based student research projects. Credit will be granted for only one of FNIS 320 or FNSP 320.
Instructor: David Gaertner
Pre-requisite: Either FNIS 310 or FNSP 310
Term: 2

FNIS 400 (6) Practicum/Advanced Research Seminar

Applied research/community oriented project designed and implemented in collaboration with student, faculty and Aboriginal community organization. Emphasis on examining ethical issues and developing culturally respectful and academically rigorous forms of research. Credit will be granted for only one of FNIS 400 or FNSP 400.
Instructor: David Gaertner
Pre-requisite: Either (a) all of FNIS 310, FNIS 320 or (b) all of FNSP 310, FNSP 320. (Students must pass FNIS 320 or FNSP 320 with a B- or higher or request program approval.)
Term: 1-2

FNIS 401C (3) Orality, Memory and Access to Records in the Indigenous Communities

This course will focus on Indigenous-led modes of memory and historical methods, including oral history, storytelling, witnessing and ceremony. Using key records, recordings, methodologies, artwork, literature and community-driven methodologies, discussion and lectures will focus on how memory is recorded, what histories and stories have been recorded, Indigenous rights to their own records including issues related to access, privacy, control, reciprocity and respect for Indigenous knowledge transfer.
Instructor: Tricia Logan
Pre-requisite: One of FNIS 100, FNSP 200, FNIS 210, FNSP 210, FNIS 220, FNSP 220
Term: 1

FNIS 401H (3) Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change

This course is an exploration into how Indigenous scholars, thinkers, practitioners, and policymakers are leading the pathway towards liveable future for all.  Indigenous environmental justice as a distinctive formulation of climate justice informs the approaches taken in this course to understand man-made climate change, climate knowledges, responses, policies, and pathways for liveable future.
Instructor: Pasang Sherpa
Pre-requisite: One of FNIS 100, FNSP 200, FNIS 210, FNSP 210, FNIS 220, FNSP 220
Term: 2

FNIS 401R (3) Structures of Settler Colonialism: Residential Schools, Indian Hospitals and Child Welfare

Historical and ongoing structures of church, state and corporate colonial control are discussed in context with Survivor statements, archival sources and Indigenous community records. This course reviews the inter-connected systems of residential/boarding schools, child welfare, day schools, Indian hospitals and several other enduring structures of settler colonialism.
Instructor: Tricia Logan
Pre-requisite: One of FNIS 100, FNSP 200, FNIS 210, FNSP 210, FNIS 220, FNSP 220
Term: 2