Fall 2006: First Nations, Inuit, and Metis: Traditional Beliefs and Contemporary Challenges

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The greatest divide in Canada may not be between French and English, but rather the gap in understanding between diverse aboriginal communities and those Canadians who immigrated and settled here in the last 500 years. We will focus on particular aspects of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis communities, including traditions, culture, history, spirituality, connection to the land, stories, language, and humour. We hope to illuminate the rich tapestry of past and current , and foster curiousity and perceptive appreciation of what it means to be from a First Nations, Inuit, and Metis culture. We also will address contemporary challenges in adapting traditional values into developing appropriate approaches to contemporary issues. New governance ideas are developing, both on and off reserve, land claims and treaty negotiations are ongoing, and novel approaches to health and justice emerging as powerful drivers in communities.

FACULTY

Mark L. Winston is the Academic Director of the Centre for Dialogue at Simon Fraser University.

Mary Jane Jim is a member of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, former Vice-chief for the Yukon region on the Executive Committee of the Assembly of First Nations, and currently operates Duu Chuu Management Consulting.Spring 2007: Going For Gold: Leveraging the Impacts of Olympic Fever

15 credits (DIAL 390W, 391W, 392W).

COURSE DESCRIPTION

In 1994, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) added environment to the set of sport and culture values that guide the activities of the Olympic Movement. It is here where the power and commitment of the IOC to deliver its event in a comprehensive fashion interfaces with the willingness and ability of the host destination to meet these requirements in a sustainable way. We will use Vancouver and Whistler, BC as laboratories to explore the many challenges and opportunities associated with guiding the 2010 Winter Olympic Games towards sustainable outcomes. We will facilitate an Olympic dialogue-archive that not only includes important dimensions of environmental stewardship, but also incorporates critical aspects of corporate social responsibility, economic opportunity, community development, sport and health promotion. The overriding focus of discussion and inquiry will centre on "How can the 2010 Winter Olympic Games contribute to global and local sustainability initiatives in a pro-active and meaningful fashion?"

FACULTY

Peter Williams is a Professor in the School of Resource and Environmental Management, Simon Fraser University.

Janet Moore is an Assistant Professor in the Undergraduate Semester in Dialogue at Simon Fraser University.