Saskatchewan Polytechnic is offering a new free Indigenous Studies course.

The Introduction to Indigenous Studies Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) is expected to take approximately 15 hours to finish.

Participants will be able to take the course at their own pace.

“All of the individuals who worked on it are of Indigenous ancestry and work with Saskatchewan Polytechnic,” says Jason Seright, the director of Indigenous Strategy at Saskatchewan Polytechnic. “It was created to provide an introduction to the diverse Indigenous cultural groups within Saskatchewan. It has a Saskatchewan focus. Students will learn about the colonization of Indigenous peoples.”

Reconciliation in Canada is also a theme of the course, which is part of Sask. Polytechnic’s Indigenous Strategy.

Anyone who is over 13 can take the one-credit course.

“I hope that we will see a high number of people enrolled,” Seright adds. “From an Indigenous perspective, this course explores key issues facing Indigenous peoples today from a historical and critical perspective. MOOC participants will have a better understanding of Indigenous peoples and their unique place in Saskatchewan and Canada’s history, which has led to today’s challenges and opportunities.”

Students can register before June 20 for the current course, which will run until June 27.

(Photo courtesy of Saskatchewan Polytechnic.)