Indigenous Peace Practices

Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:

Students successfully completing this course will be able to:

• Analyze and synthesize multiple local and global dimensions of diversity and culture affecting people’s perceptions and definitions of conflict.

• Contrast the ways various conflict theories integrate with diversity cultural issues and related dynamics of power.

• Identify the principles and foundations of indigenous systems of conflict transformation.

• Identify and apply a full range of cross-cultural conflict analysis skills.

• Engage culturally relevant listening, facilitation, and transformational practice skills.

• Assess the history and methods of colonization, cultural dominance, and oppression in relations between dominant and marginalized cultural groups.

Course Grading Information:

Activity/Performance Measure	Percentage/Points
Introductory Video Post	10 points
Participation Points	10 points
Open-Book Reading “Quizzes”	20 points
Reflective Reading Memos	30 points
Group Meetings and Reflections	30 points
Indigenous Wisdom Interview or Podcast	20 points
Final Project (One-on-One Meeting, Video Presentation, and Peer Reviews)	40 points
Extra Credit Opportunities	As announced

Grading Scale:

Percentage	Letter Grade
94–100	A
90–93	A-
87–89	B+
83–86	B
80–82	B-
77–79	C+
73–76	C
70–72	C-
67–69	D+
63–66	D
60–62	D-
Below 60	F

Attendance/Participation:

In this asynchronous online course, your active participation is essential. Much of your participation will entail individual activities, including reading, watching videos, writing memos, posting on discussion boards, and so on. Because we cannot learn about indigenous peace practices alone, though, please note the following activities that will require collaboration with others:

• Small-group meetings (three over the course of the semester) that you will schedule with your classmates. You’ll complete an availability poll during the first week of class that will help to form groups with compatible schedules.

• One assignment that requires you to (a) interview someone outside the class who can teach you about an aspect of indigenous peace practices, or (b) record a podcast-style conversation with classmates to explore one or more course themes.

• A final project that invites (but does not require) you to apply a peace practice inspired by the course material outside of class.

Finally, note that this course does not include an attendance or participation grade beyond the assignments outlined above. The “Participation Points” are light, low-stakes activities that you will find within the modules on Canvas.

Course Materials Purchased by the Students:

No course materials are required.