So far this semester this class has truly been a pleasure to attend. Taking it has allowed me to engage with exciting readings and thoughtful discussion. It has lead me to greater understanding of intellectual placement and positionality as well as strengthened my understanding of my own relationship to land and ongoing histories. It has definitely outlined many of the complexities in the relationship between the institution of the university and the Musqueam community upon whose unceded traditional territory we work and study on. It has also reminded me to be mindful of my own homeland in the traditional territories of the Blackfoot and Cree peoples of central Alberta. This is something I carry with me and work to acknowledge the territories properly. Understanding my placement on the land is central to proceeding with both the continuation of my degree and my personal practices in a responsible way. In this course, students will learn how to give a proper land acknowledgement and this is something I now always do before a presentation at the University.

FNIS 100 is a great introduction into many vey important topics. Students have the opportunity to engage with a multitude of different materials. Contents of the syllabus ranges from novels, scholarly academic papers, poetry and film and there is so much material to explore! The multiplicity of the syllabus is a great taster of the sorts of materials that await students who choose to continue in the FNIS program. Students have the opportunity to begin a foundation of decolonial analysis and are educated on everything from Indigenous law to Indigenous representation in film.

The concepts that this course provides are essential to anyone pursuing a degree (or interest) in the field of critical gender and race theory, history (particularly Canadian history, as a lot of the focus is rightfully within the context of the Northwest Coast). In short it is an amazing class packed with information and a great intro into UBC’s FNIS program.