This field-based research course focuses on some of the major issues Indigenous nations face as they seek to assert rights of self-determination in the 21st Century. It provides in-depth, hands-on exposure to Indigenous development issues, including: sovereignty, economic development, constitutional reform, leadership, health and social welfare, land and water rights, culture and language, religious freedom, and education. In particular, the course emphasizes problem definition, fieldwork relationships, and designing and completing a research project. This course is devoted primarily to preparation and presentation of a comprehensive research paper based on a field investigation. In addition to interdisciplinary faculty presentations on topics such as field research methods and problem definition, students will make presentations on their work-in-progress and findings.
