• April 26 – June 28, Thursdays, 6:00 – 9:00pm

This 10-week course provides of journey of sharing and discussing how Indigenous and Settler peoples know each other through the stories that have been told of each other in the past and which continue in the present. These stories carry the ideologies, knowledge, beliefs, values and assumptions that form the basis of their interactions with one another. A critique of the notion of ‘Settler’ will be an ongoing dialogue. A discussion of the implications of oneself in these stories is discussed within the context of the reconciliation process that is underway in Canada.

The format of this course will be primarily taught using Indigenous pedagogy. With that in mind, this course will use a sharing circle format for teaching and learning (as opposed to a lecture-style of teaching). Various assigned weekly readings and/or films will provide the momentum for discussions in the sharing circle. It will, therefore, be important that participants come to the circle having completed the readings and be willing to engage in providing feedback and critical reflexion.

Download the course outline.

Kelly Laurila is of Sáami Indigenous (Northern Finland) and Settler Irish heritages. She has been songcarrier of an Indigenous women and girls’ drum circle for 13 years and facilitator of community outreach engagements of song and education pertaining to Indigenous/Settler relations. She is also an educator of public policies and of critical Indigenous knowledges that impact Indigenous peoples and the field of social work.

Following a 23 year career in counselling, Kelly is also pursuing doctoral research pertaining to reconciliation with specific interest in Indigenous/police relations. From her own journey of struggle to reconcile her Indigenous and Settler heritages Kelly comes from a place of compassion with her interest in wanting to help others reconcile their relationship with the reconciliation process that is underway in Canada and with how to move forward in positive ways.

Fees

Tuition: $350.00 CAD

+ One-time administration fee: $30.00 CAD

+ HST 

NOTE: the administration fee only applies to students that are studying in a non-credit course at Renison for the first time. Students that have previously taken a non-credit course at Renison do not have to submit this fee again.

Tuition Discounts/Bursary

Tuition discounts in the amount of $100.00 CAD are available, upon meeting the pre-set requirements, to:

• students
• University of Waterloo/ Renison University College staff and faculty
• those who are 60 years of age or older

*Proof of current student status, employment status, or date of birth is required.

Tuition bursaries in the amount of $100.00 CAD are available to:

• all registrants that write a paragraph (indicated on registration form) explaining why they need or want to take the course

For further information, please contact Anna Fletcher-Marsh.

Cancellation Policy, Administration Fee, and Withdrawal Information

• If the course is cancelled, the administration fee and the tuition will be refunded to you in full or you may defer your registration to another term.
• There is a one-time administration fee of $30.00 CAD that is non-refundable unless the course is cancelled. This fee does not apply to students who have previously taken a non-credit course at Renison.
• You may withdraw from the course up until the registration deadline and receive a full tuition refund. The administration fee will not be refunded in this instance. After the registration deadline, you may withdraw up until the end of the first week of classes and be refunded 90% of your tuition. After this date, refunds will not be issued.

Requests to withdraw should be sent in writing over e-mail to Anna Fletcher-Marsh.

Register

• Please complete an online registration form.

Once you have submitted your registration form, you will be contacted with further information about your course including course materials, instructor’s contact information, and classroom location.

Pay

You can pay one of two ways for your non-credit course:

1. Online via our Shopify page.

2. In person at the Renison Reception Office (Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm). Payment methods accepted are: cash, cheque, money order, debit, Visa or MasterCard.

Alternatively, cheque or money order payments can be mailed to the Renison Reception Office, 240 Westmount Road North, Waterloo, ON  N2L 3G4.

Note: you must submit payment for your course prior to the course start date. Please also ensure that you pay the administration fee if this is your first non-credit course at Renison. In the case you do not submit payment, Renison University College will contact you directly.