Indigenous Traditional Ecological and Cultural Knowledge Undergraduate Certificate

The ITECK (Indigenous Traditional Ecological & Cultural Knowledge) undergraduate certificate is designed to provide Native and non-Native students with a concentrated, decolonized study of Indigenous ecological epistemologies and their value within a variety of contemporary contexts. Central themes of analysis include the understanding, practice and implementation of Seventh Generation philosophy; recognizing the role of the sacred and that all land is sacred; reciprocity and interdependence; respecting cultural protocols and cultivating healthy relationships; expanding understandings of the concept that “We are all related”; new partnership in education and land reclamation utilizing Indigenous cultural practices and holistic sustainability models; implications of ITECK on long-term land restoration and management practice and utilization of ITECK to restore the land on behalf of regional native flora and to deepen understanding, knowledge, and engagement through seasonal harvests, tending, culturally  significant programming  and community engagement with tribal, Urban Native, historically marginalized, and other regional communities.

In recent years, Western Science has “discovered” what Indigenous People have known since Time Immemorial and Indigenous oral histories continue to confront and correct inaccurate and incomplete historical accounts. Indigenous Ways of Knowing centers kinship and the reciprocal relationship between people and our environment. Through critical analysis of socially constructed narratives, the certificate will explore contemporary themes, such as community health, food sovereignty, Indigenous land management and practices, community development, resilience, and self-determination. Furthermore, opportunities will exist for building and strengthening equitable, long-term collaborative partnerships with Indigenous communities, NGO’s, as well as local, regional, and federal agencies, including an increase in paid internships and the fostering of diverse professional career pathways. In addition to theoretical work in Indigenous and Native American Studies. Disciplinary foundations include community-based learning and high-impact student experiences such as collaborative opportunities with existing community partners.

Total Credit Hours: 36

All courses for the certificate must be passed with a C- or Pass grade.