Indigenous Wellbeing, Health, and Social Justice

Abstract

This 12-week course is designed for a maximum enrolment of 60 graduate-level students with social work related and public health related academic backgrounds. It is meant to be offered once per year, in the Spring semester of the academic calendar. This aligns with the seasonal teachings provided by the Indigenous Advisory Circle that are reflected throughout the seed cycle that frames the course. Much of the Indigenous content in the course is localized to present day southwestern Ontario, including Treaty 3 and 4 Lands from the Mississauga Peoples and the subsequently issued Haldimand Proclamation, often referred to as the Haldimand Tract. At the same time, we were honoured to receive knowledge from other Territories and regions. This course is intended to engage and advance knowledge and practice in Indigenous wellbeing and health through a social justice lens. The course critically links determinants of Indigenous Peoples’ wellbeing and health to historical and ongoing colonial priorities and practices. Disparities in health and social issues, access to care, and systemic challenges, including racism experienced by Indigenous Peoples in different regions and contexts, are shared as points for discussion and reflection. An intersectionality lens is applied in consideration of the unique wellbeing and health experiences among Indigenous Peoples, including Indigenous women, youth, and Two Spirit Peoples. Indigenous approaches to science, healing, and community-based ethical practices are also profiled in social work and health care delivery, research, policy, and programming. The knowledges, values, and perspectives of Indigenous Peoples are highlighted throughout this course, incorporated within a variety of resources including readings, film and other arts-based narratives that include Indigenous scholars and community activists, in the delivery of course content and assignments. This course was created in consultation with a local Indigenous Advisory Circle that included community-based Indigenous Elders, health leaders, social workers, and academics involved in Indigenous initiatives and research. Every effort has been made to ensure that this course complies with WCAG 2.0 AA accessibility standards.