ETBB143 Contemporary Indigenous Communities and Their Response to Social, Cultural, Economic and Environment

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2024
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Taught in person.
Teacher(s)
PhDr. Eva Kuminková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. et Mgr. Eva Chovancová (assistant)
Guaranteed by
PhDr. Eva Kuminková, Ph.D.
Department of European Ethnology – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Martina Maradová
Supplier department: Department of European Ethnology – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Thu 10:00–11:40 J31, except Thu 18. 4.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
Contemporary indigenous societies live surrounded by a world which constantly challenges their cultural identity, social norms and environment. The course will explore the role of traditional knowledge and cultural heritage as a source of resilience as well as creative answer of native societies. Based on different case studies, students will get an overview of major issues that indigenous communities deal with today, mostly as a result of former colonial policies. Many of these issues are of interest to international organizations, ethnologists and cultural anthropologists, museums or state authorities. They include decolonization, repatriation, social deprivation, language loss, climate change, land loss, fishing and hunting rights, cultural appropriation and many others. Students will learn how indigenous communities from North and South America, Africa, Asia, Australia, Oceania or Europe use their cultural heritage to overcome these challenges. They will also learn about the administrative background of safeguarding cultural heritage in indigenous contexts. The course as well as the final assignment will take place in English.
Learning outcomes
Students will get an overview of topical issues that are at the background of the work of different international organizations, including United Nations, and are widely discussed in museums and other cultural institutions in the world. These are part of general ethnolgical knowledge. Students should be able to discuss the situation of indigenous communities from different parts of the world and compare their realities. They should be able to analyze the historical causes and contemporary expressions of colonial and post-colonial experience, easily find relevant resources and be able to engage in the debate about the contribution of indigenous knowledge to sustainable development. Students will be asked to realize their assigments in English, which will help them practice their writing as well as oral skills in another language.
Syllabus
  • 1. General introduction to indigenous communities, international policies, institutional context and resources 2. Colonialism and land rights 3. Social deprivation and abuse, residential schooling 4. Tourism and commercialization of indigenous cultural heritage, cultural appropriation 5. Loss of native languages and oral heritage 6. Environmental damage, sacred land loss and climate change 7. Repatriation of cultural objects and human remains, decolonizing museums 8. World Heritage sites and indigenous heritage site conservation 9. Challenges in safeguarding of indigenous intangible cultural heritage
Teaching methods
Lectures with active participation of students in the discussion; reading and films; individual research and presentation of its results in written and oral form.
Assessment methods
Students will be evaluated based on a final research paper of 5-6 pages in English (double-spaced, excluding works cited) on a community and topic they select and an oral intervention / presentation of their subject during the class.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught only once.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2024/ETBB143