240017 VO Indigenous Peoples & Development/Cooperation (3.2.3) (2022S)

Course Goals
This course is to provide a solid introduction to this topic from its historic to present day complexities. It is to engage the students into critical deconstruction of the terms 'development' and 'cooperation' as they apply to IPs. It is designed as a practical, preparatory course, geared towards actual work in the field. Students should take away the up-to-date state of discourse and current theories. They should become familiar with on-the-ground issues and the range of relevant actors. By course end, I wish to have instilled a deeper knowledge of this topic and cultivated their analysis of the multifaceted examples I will present. My primary teaching goal is to instill in students with an interest in development cooperation and deepen understanding of the complexity of the issues as they impact IPs.

Course Content
This immersive course will provide a thorough overview, and delve into the complex issues of development cooperation and indigenous peoples (IPs). We will examine the meaning of 'development' from the perspective of IPs: What does 'development' mean? What is 'sustainable development'? Who decides what IPs development is to look like? The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be examined and the application of the 'Free, Prior and Informed Consent' (FPIC) principle, which gives communities the right to give consent or say no to projects impacting them. In examining 'cooperation' we will follow the shift from the top-down approach to a more local, partnership-based approach, today often driven/carried out by IPs. The ongoing battles in regards to extractive industries and indigenous alternatives to this type of “development” will be also be covered. I will provide key examples of the range of failures and successes of development projects. We will examine organizations engaged in development work with IPs and highlight major projects. The current the state of theoretical and practical discourse will be conveyed. This course will familiarize students with development cooperation organizations and key actors such as NGOs and governments. I will provide lectures, AV materials and animate engaged discourse.

Course Methods
The course will combine instructor lecturing and AV materials. Although lectures will form the basis of this course, via leading questions I will continually animate discussions and debates. Ample time for questions, debates and observations will be made. I will direct students to publications, websites and databases, and animate for further independent research.