Nov. 2, 2020
What We Are Learning This Week with Dr. Gina Starblanket
This Week In POLI 422, Indigenous Politics in Canada, Dr. Starblanket explores various ways in which Indigenous people work to revitalize and implement governance systems and practices.
Dr. Gina Starblanket Banner
November 2, 2020 in POLI 422 Indigenous Politics in Canada
Dr. Starblanket explores various ways in which Indigenous people are working to revitalize and implement governance systems outside the Indian Act across Canada.
Can you tell us a little more about this topic?
Settler colonialism works to disavow and systematically dismantle Indigenous political systems while asserting the overarching jurisdiction and authority of settler governments. Processes of decolonization, then, can involve actions that range from enacting critiques of the settler state, to the outright rejection of state-based forms of political engagement, to the resurgence of Indigenous practices of law and governance.
What else do you cover in your course?
POLI 422 covers a range historical and contemporary socio-political issues surrounding Indigenous state relations in Canada. In it, we learn about the founational concepts, issues, and debates that shape the political relationship between Indigenous peoples and the Canadian state. Students learn about Indigenous political systems and practics, along with their relationship to Canadian political thought. Additionally, they learn about the basic elements of settler colonial political formations and reflect upon how these configure our understanding of political ideas, actors, and institutions in Canada.
What do you find the most challenging when teaching this course?
The most challenging part of teaching this course is attempting to cover the complexity and range of Indigenous governance practices and formations across Canada within a fairly small period in time.
Finally, what other courses would you recommend for students interested in this topic?
Next steps would be POLI 524 Advanced Seminar in Indigenous Politics in Canada which engages with the contributions made by Indigenous scholars to rethinking Canadian politics. For students who want an introduction to subject, they could try POLI 345 Indigenous Governance or 200- or 300-level courses in the International Indigenous Studies Program.