Land as Life: Cultivating Community-Engaged Research for Social and Cultural Sustainability

• In Event: Indigenous Knowledge as Decolonial Curricular Transformation

Abstract

Land as Life is a community-led and created undergraduate course in the Department of Xwulmuxw/Indigenous Studies at a university on the west coast of Turtle Island. It that has been running for 18 years. The class is structured around teaching and learning in community-engaged settings, off campus, from Elders and community members from the local First Nations. This research project was guided by the following original question: how can the university cultivate community-engaged research for social and cultural sustainability in good relation with people, community and land? In this presentation, we reflect on and hope to cultivate a dialogue through the filmed analysis of the interview data taken throughout the course from Elders/Knowledge Keepers, students, student-helpers, and course instructors.

Author

• Amanda Claudia Wager, Vancouver Island University
  Presenting Author