Course Description
Who are Indigenous peoples and what are indigenous religions? Exploration of these questions through an examination of indigenous religions around the world from ancient times to the present. Modern religious traditions will be examined with reference to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Athena Title
Indigenous Religions
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in RELI 1009E
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students will identify and describe key beliefs, rituals, and worldviews of various Indigenous religious traditions.
- Students will explain the historical, social, and environmental factors that shape Indigenous religious practices and their evolution over time.
- Students will examine similarities and differences among Indigenous religions and how they relate to broader religious and philosophical systems.
- Students will assess the effects of colonialism, missionary activity, and globalization on Indigenous religious traditions and practices.
- Students will interpret Indigenous oral traditions, sacred stories, and spiritual practices from the perspectives of practitioners and communities.
- Students will critically analyze representations of Indigenous religions in academic, media, and popular discourse, considering issues of cultural appropriation and misrepresentation.
- Students will articulate how an understanding of Indigenous religious traditions can inform broader discussions on spirituality, ecology, ethics, and interfaith dialogue.
Topical Outline
- Defining Indigenous Religions
Sacred Spaces and Cosmology
Rituals and Ceremonies
Mythology and Oral Traditions
Indigenous Religious Leadership
Impact of Colonization and Resistance
Indigenous Religions and Ecology
Syncretism and Interreligious Encounters
Contemporary Challenges and Globalization
Case Studies of Indigenous Traditions
General Education Core
CORE IV: World Languages and Global Culture
