By Nadine Moedt (The Cascade) – Email
Print Edition: February 5, 2014
Considering it hasn’t changed since its implementation, the time has come for a revamping of UFV’s bachelor of arts program.
The current design, which was inherited from Simon Fraser University, is undergoing a review to look at breadth requirements and whether courses adhere to UFV’s newly developed learning outcomes.
Indigenization of the curriculum is a key value in these learning outcomes, and is taking priority during the review.
“If indigenization is something that our university is committed to then we also have to be committed to, making sure that all students have some exposure to these things,” says associate dean of students in arts Susan Fisher. “If that’s what we value, then we’ve got to put it into practice.”
According to Fisher, the draft for the new bachelor of arts framework could come into effect September 2015 at the earliest. Input from various departments is needed to draw up the new criteria for breadth requirements. With each course evaluation, the question of whether consideration has been given to indigenizing the curriculum is posed; they were developed in a time when proper consideration may not have been given to indigenous content.
“If [courses] were developed during a time where we weren’t as aware or as committed to indigenizing, then as [the program comes] through the revision process it’s an opportunity to check whether indigenous content is appropriate, and if so how is it being supported,” says Fisher. “As courses come up for revision, now in a way that might not have been asked before, this question is asked.”
Questions of what a student should glean from a BA are brought to the forefront — what is the role of science, for instance, or history, or ecological awareness and literacy?
“There are a lot of different values that we might have here,” Fisher says, “but how do we build them into the program?
Arts 100 is one course that contains a fair amount of indigenous content. Students read indigenous-inclusive texts, attend sessions on “ideas of territory and homeland” with elders while spending time in the gathering space in Chilliwack, and watch a screening of “Meaning of Life,” a film by UFV’s Hugh Brody.
Another addition to the BA is the new indigenous studies degree. The proposal, worked on by associate dean Ken Brealey, senior advisor of indigenous affairs Shirley Hardman, and program coordinator Sylvie Murray, has been under construction for several years, and will potentially be available to students in September 2015.
“There have been indigenous studies degrees around in other places for a long time, so it’s time for us to catch up. And we are doing that.”
The degree, according to Murray, is based on a selection of indigenous people’s knowledge (IPK) courses, in addition to a sample of courses in various disciplines. Courses in history, criminology, social work, political science, anthropology, and Halq’emeylem are a few of the departments involved.
“It’s a combination of cultural awareness and more applied, hard skills,” Murray says. The degree could include communications and media studies content and would offer courses on both the Abbotsford and Chilliwack campuses.
Potential careers after graduating with this specialization vary widely, from government agencies and band offices to non-profit organizations and resource management with First Nations communities.
“The program is designed for indigenous and non-indigenous students,” says Murray. “It is shaped to speak to students who are interested and want to work in these areas and be well versed in the issues.”
She concludes saying the degree would be “a very important part of UFV’s effort to educate ourselves and our students.”
