This one-quarter, student-centered program allows students to understand how Tribal people integrate Indigenous knowledge, skills, and experience into academic and creative work, language and cultural preservation, and as they develop meaningful careers. The program is designed to meet the needs of students with differing interests. Because of this, we will create the syllabus as we proceed to include a variety of student interests. Students are encouraged to invite guest speakers, bring videos, and suggest books. The faculty will work with students to ensure that their learning goals are met.
As we work, we will ask: How is reading, writing, research, and communication a type of weaving that helps us understand and reflect on the relationships between ideas and identity, culture and place, memory and meaning, and the role of narrative in our personal, professional, and academic lives? How do effective writers, speakers, communicators, and leaders braid ideas, information, and experience into stories, essays, podcasts, presentations, or other mediums of communication? A history component will introduce students to the historical and cultural experiences of groups served by the social services and K-12 education systems. A cultural competence component will be self-exploratory, enabling students to understand what they bring to a cultural encounter in a service-providing role. Some students will use online tools and related readings to gain an understanding of the Indian Child Welfare Act and the cultural factors to consider when handling cases involving Indian children and families. Others will become familiar with the OSPI Since Time Immemorial curriculum used in K12 classrooms across Washington State.
The major text will be: Pedagogy of the Oppressed , Freire; other articles, films, essays, podcasts, readings and resources. A portfolio of student work will be maintained.
Anticipated Credit Equivalencies:
Awarded credit will vary by student project.
Registration
Students should prepare a brief statement outlining a project they would like to take on and send to the faculty at petersoy@evergreen.edu by the end of week 10. Students can meet with faculty during academic fair.
Academic Details
Education, social work, political science, writing, communication, leadership, visual and indigenous arts, indigenous culture, history, community service, activism, law, ecology, sustainability and justice.
$100 fee covers Indigenous weaving materials. All products belong to the student at the completion of the quarter.
Students completing an internship as part of this SOS must complete an in-program Internship Learning Contract in consultation with the faculty and the Assistant Director of Internships (Luis.Apolaya_Torres@evergreen.edu or (360) 819-6715).