Introduction to Indigenous Understandings of Sustainability
July 11 – August 2, 2025
In this highly immersive, experiential course, students explore the foundational structures, systems, and theories of sustainability with a strong emphasis on Indigenous Ways of Knowing, Doing and Being. Beginning with the origins and varied interpretations of sustainability, students will engage in an interdisciplinary examination of modern life, critically reflecting on the ecological impacts of food, energy, consumption, and transportation habits on both the planet and its inhabitants.
Through various experiential learning activities - such as site visits, field trips, simulation games, and guest lectures – students will deepen their understanding of the Indigenous practices in ecological restoration, assess the sustainability of food systems, and make connections between global sustainability goals and local actions.
You’ll learn how to:
- Compare and contrast different understandings of relationships stemming from Indigenous knowledges and histories.
- Compare large-scale and small-scale responses to environmental problems, such as mitigation, adaptation, policy-making, and resilience, and examine the values underpinning economic systems, including the limitations of infinite growth on a finite planet.
- Identify the interconnected components of food, energy, manufacturing, transportation, and building systems, and illustrate how they can contribute to or mitigate ecological degradation and social inequality.
This program is right for you if:
- You are passionate about sustainability and seek a deeper understanding of its fundamental structures and theories, particularly in relation to Indigenous Ways of Being, Knowing, and Doing.
- You are interested in exploring the interconnectedness of sustainability with social dynamics and environmental progress and analyzing the impacts of various factors on the planet and mankind.
- You are eager to create positive change in global sustainability challenges by aligning strategies with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
What will you be able to do after this course?
- Analyze and apply diverse understandings of sustainability, including Indigenous perspectives, to real-world scenarios and initiatives.
- Identify and address the impacts of colonialism on social dynamics, equipping you to navigate complex environmental and social challenges.
- Create practical responses to environmental issues, evaluating both large-scale and small-scale solutions while understanding the economic values that shape our actions.