Teaching

It is part of Master's Programme in Finnish and Finno-Ugrian languages and cultures, thematic studies of Master's Programme in Environmental Change and Global Sustainability (ECGS), Master's programme in Intercultural Encounters (ICE), and Doc­toral Pro­gramme in Polit­ical, So­ci­etal and Re­gional Change.

The Indigenous Studies module covers the following thematic, methodological, and theoretical competences: Introduction to World’s Indigenous peoples, Indigenous research methodologies and research ethics; Indigenous languages and education; biocultural diversity, Indigenous arts, and Indigenous histories and rights. The study units introduce to Indigenous philosophies, values, and concepts providing with new insights into onto-epistemologies, power relations, as well as historical and contemporary perspectives in Indigenous studies. Engaging with relational teaching methods, the students learn about Indigenous peoples’ knowledge-making processes, which draw from interactions and lived experiences and observations through many generations. The Indigenous Studies programme can inspire the students who plan their career in, for example, policy-making, environment and sustainability sector, education, social work, health care, law, economy, museums, and various areas of culture.

Module content:

Degree requirements for 15 credits:

• IND-510 Indigenous peoples, epistemic and linguistic diversity
• IND-511 Methodologies and research ethics in Indigenous Studies
• IND-512 Indigenous biocultural conservation and well-being

Degree requirements for 30 credits additionally:

• IND-513 Indigenous rights, history, and relations of power
• IND-514 Indigenous arts and digital media
• IND-515 Selected topics in Indigenous languages

Teaching 2023–2024

• IND-510 Indigenous peoples, epistemic and linguistic diversity, 5 ECTS, I period.
• IND-512 Indigenous biocultural conservation and well-being, 5 ECTS, II period.
• IND-511 Methodologies and research ethics in Indigenous Studies, 5 ECTS, III period.
• IND-513 Indigenous rights, history, and relations of power, teaching event in 2024 Indigenous rights and international law, 5 ECTS, IV period.
• IND-514 Indigenous arts and digital media. Teaching event in 2023–2024 as Indigenous Arts Reading Circle (I-IV periods, with the University of Arts). Please note, the registration ends the Aug 28th.
• IND-515 Selected topics in Indigenous languages, 5 ECTS, in 2023–2024 teaching events are “Saame I” (I period), “Saame II” (II period), “Saame III” (III period), and “Saame IV” (IV period)
• PYAM-9195 & PYAM-9196 PhD Seminar in Indigenous Studies I & II (I–IV period)

An independent studying and general examination are also possible in all study units.

Contact: pirjo.virtanen@helsinki.fi