Three Potential Ideas

ONE

Contentment Versus Conquest: The Roots of Indigenous Environmentalism

How does history reflect current environmental trends, specifically when comparing Indigenous groups to colonial groups?
In exploring this topic, I would hope to understand how history has impacted current Indigenous environmentalism. I would like to examine how Indigenous history has shaped their modern practices and beliefs so as to value sustainability. I would also like to explore how Indigenous groups translate these values into activism. I believe an exploration of NoDAPL would serve as an interesting example to highlight this argument.

TWO

Indigenous Feminism Across the Globe

How do indigeneity and female identification interact in countries across the globe?
For this idea I would explore how women all over the world navigate the intersectionality of being a woman and Indigenous. I think I would focus on the historical value many Indigenous people placed on women before colonialism, and how this changed once countries were settled. Additionally, I think it would be interesting to compare and contrast how women across the globe demonstrate their femininity within their particular cultures (ex. through dances, ceremonies, art, ect.)

THREE

Indigenous Education

How have educational systems influenced Indigenous children’s learning, both before and after colonialism?
I grew up in a community beside a reserve, and my high school was roughly 40% Indigenous students. However, there was another high school on the reserve where many Indigenous students went. I would like to explore how these “on-reserve” schools function, and how they benefit/harm their students. I do not know much about this topic, so I do not know if it is appropriate for this class. Within this area, I would also examine how Indigenous children were educated before colonialism, and how the transition to a western educational system contributed to the repression of Indigenous culture.

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