Indigenous Histories, Power, and Social Justice

History 10188-01
Open Closing on March 27, 2025 / 1 spot left
College of Wooster
Wooster, Ohio, United States
Associate Professor
2
Timeline
  • April 2, 2025
    Experience start
  • April 5, 2025
    Project Kickoff
  • April 17, 2025
    Research & Data Collection
  • April 24, 2025
    Analysis & Drafting Phase
  • May 8, 2025
    Project Showcase & Reflection
  • May 10, 2025
    Experience end
Experience
1 projects wanted
Dates set by experience
Preferred companies
Anywhere
Any company type
Any industries

Experience scope

Categories
Social work History Social justice
Skills
indigenous studies critical thinking policy evaluation research papers interdisciplinary research social justice research
Learner goals and capabilities

Learners in this course develop a strong understanding of Indigenous worldviews, histories, and contemporary struggles, particularly regarding power, privilege, and social justice. They can critically analyze the systemic and structural inequalities faced by Indigenous communities, assess the impact of settler colonialism, and interpret different perspectives on sovereignty, activism, and identity. Learners will be able to engage in discussions on intersectionality, structural inequity, and historical and contemporary Indigenous issues using evidence-based reasoning.


Employers working with these learners will benefit from their ability to:

  • Recognize and analyze historical and present-day structures of inequality affecting Indigenous communities.
  • Explain Indigenous worldviews and histories using scholarly evidence.
  • Discuss power, privilege, and intersectionality in relation to Indigenous identities and experiences.
  • Evaluate social justice frameworks and propose informed strategies to address inequities.
  • Use interdisciplinary research methods to analyze complex social and historical issues.


Learners

Learners
Undergraduate
Beginner, Intermediate levels
9 learners
Project
30 hours per learner
Educators assign learners to projects
Teams of 5
Expected outcomes and deliverables

Expected Outcomes:

  • Learners will research and analyze historical and contemporary Indigenous issues.
  • They will assess the impact of settler colonialism on Indigenous cultures and rights.
  • They will explore Indigenous activism and sovereignty movements.


Deliverables:

  • Research Paper – A historical analysis of a key issue in Indigenous history (e.g., land rights, education, or health policy) with evidence-based arguments.
  • Policy Brief – An evaluation of a contemporary Indigenous policy challenge, with recommendations for reform.
  • Multimedia Presentation – A digital or oral presentation exploring an aspect of Indigenous activism, culture, or legal struggles.
  • Reflection Essay – A personal analysis of Indigenous worldviews and their interactions with settler colonialism.


Project timeline
  • April 2, 2025
    Experience start
  • April 5, 2025
    Project Kickoff
  • April 17, 2025
    Research & Data Collection
  • April 24, 2025
    Analysis & Drafting Phase
  • May 8, 2025
    Project Showcase & Reflection
  • May 10, 2025
    Experience end

Project Examples

Requirements
  • Historical Analysis: Examining the impact of settler colonial policies (e.g., Indian boarding schools, the Dawes Act) on Indigenous identity and sovereignty.
  • Policy & Social Justice Review: Investigating contemporary land and water rights disputes, such as the Dakota Access Pipeline protests, and analyzing their impact on Indigenous sovereignty.
  • Intersectional Identity Research: Studying the effects of intersectionality on Indigenous identities (e.g., the experiences of Indigenous women, LGBTQ+ communities, or urban Indigenous populations).
  • Systemic Inequality Evaluation: Assessing disparities in Indigenous healthcare, education, or legal rights and proposing solutions.
  • Indigenous Knowledge & Worldviews: Exploring Indigenous governance, environmental stewardship, and traditional knowledge as alternatives to Western frameworks.

Additional company criteria

Companies must answer the following questions to submit a match request to this experience:

  • Q1 - Text short
    What is the main goal of this project, and how does it relate to Indigenous history, knowledge, or social justice?  *
  • Q2 - Text short
    What final deliverables are you expecting from student teams? (e.g., research report, policy brief, digital content, educational materials, social media campaign, etc.)  *
  • Q3 - Text short
    What level of collaboration and check-ins do you expect from the teams? (e.g., weekly updates, mid-project reviews)  *
  • Q4 - Text short
    Are there specific cultural protocols or guidelines they should be aware of when working on this project?  *
  • Q5 - Text short
    Would you be open to providing testimonials or endorsements for students who successfully complete the project?