Indigenous studies is a discipline drawing from a decolonial approach and advancing epistemological diversity. During the academic year 2024–25, it offers 15-30 ECTS minor study package, or individual courses for students of any faculty. It aims at holistic understanding of Indigenous knowledge production, Indigenous research methodologies, languages, Indigenous arts, human-environmental interactions, Indigenous rights, history, and future making. The courses center at ethical issues and engage with relational teaching methods. Indigenous knowledges refer to collective place-based knowledge and lived experiences across many generations. The courses provide in-depth and reflective tools for recognizing the legacy of Western research in examining Indigenous social worlds, power relations, and aims towards long-term reconciliation.
Indigenous studies staff is a multidisciplinary team with long-term reciprocal interactions especially with Arctic Indigenous nations, such as the Saami, as well as Amazonia, among others.
The Indigenous Studies program is beneficial for students who consider their career in, for example, policy-making, environment and sustainability sector, education, social work, health care, law, economy, museums, and various areas of culture. The teaching events for the semester 2024-25 can be found here:
https://www.helsinki.fi/en/researchgroups/indigenous-studies/teaching