This course provides a critical overview of Canada's history. Everyone in Canada should complete this course and I firmly believe that all settlers have a responsibility to learn about the impact of colonialism on Indigenous peoples - past and present. My only piece of constructive feedback is about making the course more engaging. I would have loved to see even more interviews and other more engaging ways of presenting information, as at times, the delivery felt a bit dry. Especially in the last section about Indigenous Art, I would have really benefitted from seeing more images of the art as it was being discussed. Thank you!

the course very clearly showed the connections between the past and present as well as stating the ways indigenous people experience todays white focused culture. However it is also very strongly seems that indigenous men are not seen as bein connected to the earth, the over all belief seems to be only women are connected with the earth. I was also discouraged by the use of the term patriarchy. I believe any society headed by an individual based upon gender is wrong. Throughout the course it appears that patriarchy is bad and matriarchy is good. Power based upon gender js as ill conceived a concept as power based on race.

This course gave me a new perspective on and appreciation for Indigenous people in Canada. The information was presented from an Indigenous point of view, and, while it made the content somewhat one-sided, it introduced me to a way of thinking about these topics that I hadn't been exposed to in grade school. I think it's important for all Canadians to be able to view our past and present from an Indigenous perspective, and taking this course is one way to do that. I knocked off a star because the course was not as engaging as I had hoped (I started to get bored a few modules in) and the quiz questions were not well-worded.

I found the course very interesting and thought-provoking. Why didn't we learn this stuff in school?! I particularly found the topics of residential schools and gender interesting and will be learning more about the Indigenous POV on these in the future. I also loved that it ended with a module on Indigenous art and artists. I did not know of Christie Belcourt and Rebecca Belmore before this and my curiosity to seek out more about them is piqued. I appreciated that there weren't papers to write. Thank you very much! Will look forward to any tangential courses from the Native Studies dept. from the U of A in the future!

This introductory course had three main presenters who were great at telling the stories. I liked Dr. Tracy Bear the most as her style and tone was very conducive to my learning. This course is heavily geared toward watching videos and clips of others talking about specific items. There is also an art and artist component. It is not difficult to follow and read the notes. I would like more reference to maps and locations of some of the native groups as there were only generalities and green dots on a map of Canada. I have learned and relearned much by taking this convenient online course.

Ted Fuller M.Sc. P.Eng. P.Geo.

Overall an interesting course that provides a good overview of the history of Indigenous North American peoples and many of the issues that have affected them and continue to affect them, their culture, their livelihoods and their future. There were some technical issues with the presentation of the course (including when those pop-up questions appeared in modules) some of the formatting, and the 12th module needs a redo as no links are provided to access the artists that they refer to and subsequently ask questions about. I definitely learned something in every module despite being familiar with a lot of the content.

I enjoyed this course. There is a lot of material presented clearly and in a way that draws the viewer in to the story. Some of the quiz questions were challenging as they don't always readily connect to the material presented at first glance. Being able to reread and review the material as many times as I wanted was helpful and reinforcing. The three host speakers were easy to listen to and the paintings were a great way to visually connect with the materials presented. The only criticism would be that some of the written text was less than accurate to the spoken presentations and distracted from the materials.

Very interesting, and horrifyingly eye-opening. A new sense of our country's identity comes into light. The insights into the culture and history taught through the scope this course helps us as Canadians -- first generation, first person, fifth-generation Torontonian -- to understand the nature of our Country; what holds us together, keeps us apart, and why we fall into this cyclical blind pattern of poor social governance.

This course helps us all to find a definition of home: Canada as a country of many nation -- and puts Margaret Atwood's "Survival" into challenge about our true identity as many, but one, people.

I started this course to understand the native plight and why they are so angry with our government and white society. I have come to realize why. How do we go forward TOGETHER while respecting each other? Blaming has not solved the problems as we seem to be stuck in the same rut. I found the instructors very informative.I would have given 5 stars but at times I felt the anger and resentment coming through on some lectures with some smirks. I still have many questions such as why two nations? Are we not all Canadians? The course has made me want to learn more to understand better.

A 70 year old white person!

Thank you for this course. I am urban indigenous of Mississauga Ojibwa but have little background information on my history of Indigeneity as my grandmother was a graduate of residential schooling and would not teach her children about her people. This program offered a beginning of developing an understanding of my own identity. I do wish there was more information on the indigenous people of eastern Canada - specifically Ojibwa in this course but perhaps there are more specific courses I can take. but overall I found this course both informative and insightful. I am looking forward to continued learning.

Very good overview of a huge and complex subject. While I wouldn't call it a comprehensive history lesson, it definitely includes a lot of major historical events. Mainly it is a deep examination of worldview, with a lot of cultural ideas and I found the many examples of political struggles, activists and legal battles to be enormously helpful in understanding where we are today and what groundwork has already been laid down. It is a good introduction and made me want to keep reading more and learning about what Indigenous people are doing in this generation to heal to make Canada and the planet a better place.

I enjoyed the course content and believe I learned a good deal about the experience of Indigenous people since first contact with white settlers. The only concern I would raise is that the "talking presentation" is sometimes overwhelming. I think it would be helpful to include more visuals as examples of what is being discussed as the presenter speaks, this is especially true in some of the lessons that are complex and full of detail. Overall this was a positive experience for me and I would recommend it to friends as a way to begin to learn about the experiences of Indigenous people as a colonized community.

Thank you for an insightful and engaging course on Indigenous Canada. It has given me some understanding into the role of world views, the importance of interdependence and relationships which conveys a more horizontal rather than vertical orientation of engaging with others and our environment. This appears to be very different from our “western” perspective and I wander how one works to maintain this perspective in the daily life. Thank you for also sharing the viewpoint of Indigenous women in terms of expanding their role in governance, leadership and expanding role in family life and in the community.

Very intresting perspective of the history of Indigenous Canada from inside. History is usually written by the winner so it was refreshing to hear the other side. Being brown myself I emphathise , however am glad you ended on an uplifting note of the Arts. It is a pity so many other cultures cannot also tell their story of colonization in such a format. Truly Canada was a unique multicultural country from the start. Your course helps us understand the issues that are ongoing and may never be solved. Thank you for the knowledge shared, as it heals. This couse should be required school ciriculum.

An excellent introduction to understanding the Indigenous culture and history. The first part of the course was comprised of information that should be included in all school sectors. I have read that they may not include this content of indigenous history in the early grades of the Alberta school system. Sadly this is what occurred during my school years. The later part of the course reinforced my current understanding and knowledge base. I felt that some of the information could have been presented in more detail and that some areas could be updated. Otherwise I totally enjoyed the course.

Much of the course was amazing.

The teachers, story tellers, artists, and early content were amazing. 5 stars!

I didn't enjoy some of the later modules. They were opinion pieces that seemed to focus entirely on activism and resistance....completely ignoring the important work currently being done by Indigenous folks (like myself and network across canada) that are trying to find prosperity from the ashes of colonialism. There are amazing things being done by First Nations, Indigenous businesses, and Indigenous entrepreneurs. The course completely ignores this important work....no stars

I enrolled in this course as a part of the Healing & Wellness Counselor Program through NETC. As an Indigenous woman, there was a vast amount of information that I did not know. I thoroughly enjoyed this course and would recommend this course to anyone looking for education on Indigenous people. I experienced many unexpected emotions while working through each lesson. I felt it, processed it and released it. Thank you for awakening another part of my healing journey.

Thank you for the time and effort that was dedicated to making this course what it is. All the best to you all. Love to you

This course has caused me to reflect on the history of my home province of Alberta. The greatest sacrifice in that story of settlement was paid by our indigenous brother and sisters in the giving up of their traditional hunting lands, aspects of their culture and identity. This course has reminded me to not forget the ongoing social effects that colonization and settlement have caused.

P.S. I have been reading Wallace Stegner’s book “Wolf Willow” at the same time as having been enrolled in this course. It has broadened my understanding of the issues raised in the course material.

Very much appreicate all the work that went into getting all the information, interviews and of course the 1941's video.

Love the history of the treaty, fur trade and art.

Always curious of the truth what happened during the early migration of european settlers coming into Canada, now I understand a little more of the how's what's and who's of this tragic, sad and shameful relationship between first Nations People and the Canadian Government.

Thank you for all that you do to help us all understand the Worldview both past and present relationships with the Indigenous Peoples.

Brenda

This is a wonderful course and I learned a great deal. However, I would suggest it should be revised annually if possible. Currently there is a great deal of context missing about the graves of the children being discovered at residential schools. Lots going on on the reconcilation front with the pope coming to visit this year, the role of the monarchy and questions about their reparations.

Also a note about the test questions: it's not fair to frame them in the negative. It feels like trickery when they aren't framed in the positive. High school shenanigans.

The course served as a rewriting of north american history for me, presenting the perspective from the aboriginal peoples of the lands to which settler nations came. I came to better understand the relationships of aboriginal nations and Canada throughout history. Modern day perspectives also served well to show how aboriginal peoples are part of the fabric of our Country and how important it is to right past injustices. I write this on the day the Pope arrives in Canada, I trust, to help all those who have suffered as a result of a horrendous period of history.

Having done the UBC Indigenous MOOC a few years ago, I found this one much better. The Canadian focus was great, I learned a lot, and I loved that there was a great deal of positive representation. My only real complaint would be the quizzes which were poorly worded and felt really picky in terms of looking at minute detail rather than overarching concepts. I've recommended the course to a number of people and am grateful to have taken it, especially for the great integration of Indigenous art and the focus on 4 regions to help break the "one Indian" stereotype.

Incredibly informative introduction to Indigenous history and culture. There is so much material to cover, but this course did a great job presenting the information in bite-sized, well constructed modules.

The only thing I would like to see more of is Mi'kmaq inclusion. As someone living in Mi'kma'ki and knowing there is a long, rich history of the Mi'kmaq peoples I would like to have more representation for the full East Coast of what is called Canada.

Thank you for offering this great resource. This is something every person of settler heritage should engage in.

I found this full of knowledge that can help me empathize with the indigenous culture and it raised my knowledge of some facts. I have a better appreciation for the history and the grassroots causes. I thoroughly enjoyed the format although the last module of art seemed the most difficult for me; not sure why. I love art culture.I have recommended this course to a few other people. I work in a school and I had an understanding of orange shirt day but, now I completely feel that in some ways the residential schools caused much more trauma that I truly understood.

Great course, I had many learning moments where the incomplete knowledge I brought to the course was sewn together into something more complete. I also found my thoughts and opinions being challenged as I made my way from "week to week". It's been the cause of a lot of reflection, and has made me reach out to friends and family to discuss the issues that are broached in this course. I gave the course 4/5 only because I wish the videos had made more effective use of the video format. However, 10/10 would recommend this course to other colleagues and friends.