Course Outline Format - School of Social Work - University of British ...

The University of British ColumbiaSchool of Social WorkCourse Outline – SOWK425(002)School Vision: Building upon a foundation of social justice and an ethic of care, we area community of learners actively engaged in the development of critical, transformativeknowledge for social work practice.Year/Term 2012-2013: Term 1Course Title SOWK 425-002 First Nations Social IssuesCourse Schedule Tuesday , 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noonCourse Location Jack Bell Social Work Building Rm. 028Instructor Office Location Office Phone e-mail addressDr. Richard Vedan Social Work 335 (604) 822-3520 rvedan@ubc.caOffice Hours By appointmentCOURSE DESCRIPTION:The purpose of this course is to provide students with knowledge and skillswhich will enhance their capacity to work with First Nations by engaging in criticalanalysis of the social, political, economic, and religious context of European/Canadiansand First Nations relations. The historical and contemporary relationship betweenEuropean/Canadians and First Nations over the past five hundred years will beanalyzed in terms of the social/psychological impact upon First Nations individuals andtheir communities. As well the trajectory of Canadian policies/legislation aimed at FirstNations and factors contributing to child abuse, family breakdown, violence againstwomen and children, and drug and alcohol abuse are all considered with attention toimplications for social work practice. Past and current influences of social work practicein justice/corrections, health, education, employment, economic development, selfgovernmentand Aboriginal rights are also considered within a holistic framework whichcan inform effective practice with Aboriginal individuals, families and communities.LEARNING OBJECTIVES:Students will gain an understanding of the history of First Nations peoples which wasnot totally of their own volition. Students will become familiar with First Nations’perspectives on the social, political and economic consequences of governmentalpolicies and helping practices directed towards them. Students will become aware ofhistorical and contemporary aspects of identity, poverty, health, education, justice,homelessness and economic development.Page 1 of 6

SOWK425(002) 2012-2013Students will gain perspective that will enable them to situate themselves with respectto the historical and contemporary circumstances of First Nations peoples in urban andrural settings.COURSE OBJECTIVES:1. Critically analyze the impact of European political, social, and economic policiesand religious efforts on First Nations people.2. Critically analyze the strengths and weaknesses of major European/Canadianlegislation and policies that have been and are currently directed at First Nationspeople.3. Critically analyze the “diversity of experiences” that First Nations people havehad in their relationship with European/Canadian society.4. Critically analyze the historical and current roles of social workers as well asimplications for practice.5. Identify barriers to and strategies for effective social work with First Nations.6. Apply principles of a holistic approach to social work practice with First Nations inthe above analysis.7. Assess the appropriateness of interventions aimed at First Nations.REQUIRED COURSE TEXTS:Fournier, S. and Crey, E., (1997) Stolen from our embrace. Vancouver , B.C.:Douglas and McIntyre.Frideres, James S. and Rene R. Gadacz, (2012) Aboriginal Peoples in Canada:Contemporary Conflicts. Ninth Edition. Toronto: Prentice-Hall Canada Inc.SUPPLEMENTARY READINGS:York, Geoffrey, (1990) The dispossessed: Life and death in Native Canada. London:Vintage.Adams, H., (1995) A tortured people: The politics of colonization.Penticton, B.C.: Theytus Books Ltd.Haig-Brown, C., (1991). Resistance and renewal: Surviving the Indian residentialschool . Vancouver: Tillicum Library Arsenal Pulp Press Ltd.EVALUATION:Evaluation will be based upon:(a) Midterm paper 35%(b) Participation 10%Page 2 of 6

SOWK425(002) 2012-2013(c) Outline for major paper 15%(d) Essay 40%All written work must be submitted in APA format, and only hard copies will beaccepted.(a) Midterm paper: 35 marks For this assignment you are asked to record yourthoughts and feelings as you read and discuss each chapter of the Fournier and Creytext: how and if you relate to certain characters and situations, and does what you arelearning experiencing affect the rest of your life. Some examples of an entry may be: “Ifelt frustrated by the section on policy because policy seems to be too impersonal, and Iam more of a person-interacting type,” or “I felt really angry at Native youth for throwingaway their lives by using alcohol and committing suicide,” or “I felt really sad becausethere has been so much oppression for Native people and it reminded me of my ownoppression.”Students are encouraged to devote at least 15-20 minutes, or two handwritten pages,to entries following each class. The use of the individual journal is not intended as atherapeutic tool for students, rather it should be thought of as an instrument of personalenlightenment which will assist you to further define and refine your practice and policydevelopment skills. In other words, it should get you in touch with First Nations peoples’experience by understanding your own.Bases upon the content of at least five journal entries provide and analysis regardinghow you will integrate the above into your Social Work practice. For example how doyou think your observations and reactions might influence your practice generally andwith First Nations peoples specifically? An eight to ten page paper on the abovematerial is due on or before Friday, October 26, 2012 at 4:30 PM(b) Participation: 10 marksIn accordance with UBC policy students are expected to attend all classes. Studentsare expected to be active participants in their own education and to come to classprepared to engage in discussions based upon completion of assigned readings.(c) Outline for major paper: 15marksAn outline that defines: the topic to be addressed, the main ideas to be included, thesequence of the points to be made and that indicates the conceptual framework to beused as the basis for analysis and discussion, is to be submitted no later than Tuesday,November 01, 2011 at 4:30 pm. The outline will serve as basis of discussion in ameeting with the instructor regarding your major paper.(d) Major Essay: 40 marksFocussing upon a topic of your choice your paper will examine a contemporary socialissue impacting First Nation individuals and communities within the context of thehistorical events that have influenced their lives over the past five hundred years.Information should be drawn from the course texts and other relevant publications.Page 3 of 6

SOWK425(002) 2012-2013Analysis should integrate your worldview, your personal understanding of the nature ofhuman behaviour development and the development of social problems.A paper, 16 to 20 pages in length is due on or before Friday, December 07, 2012 at4:30 pm.OUTLINE AND READINGS:1. Sept. 11/12 Classroom introductions, overview of course and expectationsPre-contact, culture and socialization.Section one the microcosmic case perspective2. Sept. 18/12 Guest speaker Dr. Shelly Johnson at Sty Wet Tan FNHL 9am -12pmRead Family Under Siege/Residential School ImpactRequired Readings:Fournier & Crey: Chapters one and two3. Sept. 25/12 Guest speaker Dr. Lee Brown at Sty Wet Tan FNHL 9am-12pmChild Welfare/Fetal Alcohol SyndromeRequired ReadingsFournier & Crey: Chapters three and six4. Oct. 02/12 View Kanehsatake : 270 Years of Resistance on-lineNational Film Board www.onf-nfb.gc.caRead Sexual Abuse and HealingRequired Readings:Fournier & Crey: Chapters four and five.5. Oct. 09/11 Children’s FutureRequired Readings:Fournier & Crey: Chapter sevenGuest speakers Suzanne Fournier and Ernie CreySection two the macrocosmic perspective6. Oct. 16/12 The context of European and First Nations relationsRequired Readings:Frideres & Gadacz: Chapters 1 & 27. Oct. 23/12 Population and Health: Social ProfileRequired Readings:Frideres & Gadacz: Chapter 38. Oct. 30/12 Demographics, Education and Employment: Social ProfilePage 4 of 6

SOWK425(002) 2012-2013Required Readings:Frideres & Gadacz: Chapter 49. Nov. 06/12 City Life and Gender Issues/ Aboriginal Organizations & AANDRequired Readings:Frideres & Gadacz: Chapters 5 & 610. Nov.13/12 First Nations:Treaties &Land ClaimsRequired Readings:Frideres & Gadacz: Chapters 711. Nov. 20/12 The MetisRequired Readings:Frideres & Gadacz: Chapters 812. Nov. 27/12 Self determination and self-government; Inuit and the creation ofNunavutRequired Readings:Frideres & Gadacz: Chapters 9 &10COURSE POLICIES [attendance, participation, academic dishonesty]:Excerpt from the UBC calendar:Regular attendance is expected of students in all their classes (including lectures, laboratories, tutorials, seminars,etc.). Students who neglect their academic work and assignments may be excluded from the final examinations.Students who are unavoidably absent because of illness or disability should report to their instructors on return toclasses.The University accommodates students with disabilities who have registered with the Disability Resource Centre.The University accommodates students whose religious obligations conflict with attendance, submittingassignments, or completing scheduled tests and examinations. Please let your instructor know in advance,preferably in the first week of class, if you will require any accommodation on these grounds. Students who plan tobe absent for varsity athletics, family obligations, or other similar commitments, cannot assume they will beaccommodated, and should discuss their commitments with the instructor before the drop date.It is recommended that students retain a copy of all submitted assignments (in case of loss) and should also retainall their marked assignments in case they wish to apply for a Review of Assigned Standing. Students have the rightto view their marked examinations with their instructor, providing they apply to do so within a month of receiving theirfinal grades. This review is for pedagogic purposes. The examination remains the property of the university.Academic Dishonesty:Please review the UBC Calendar “Academic regulations” for the university policy on cheating, plagiarism, and otherforms of academic dishonesty. Also visit www.arts.ubc.ca and go to the students’ section for useful information onavoiding plagiarism and on correct documentation.ASSIGNMENTSSubmitting Assignments-Students can use the drop box located by office 116 to submit their assignments or any correspondence to faculty,sessionals or staff. Items will be date-stamped and distributed to the appropriate mailbox throughout the day.Return of marked student assignments -Instructors coordinate the return of marked assignments. The options are as follows: a) the instructor returns thepaper to students in class; b) if the paper has been submitted electronically, the instructor will mark it on-line (withPage 5 of 6

SOWK425(002) 2012-2013track changes) and return to the student on-line; c) the instructor returns the paper to the student by snail mail (thestudent provides a self-stamped, addressed envelope to the instructor). Marked papers not returned by any of theoptions above will be held by the instructor. Marked papers will no longer be put in a box outside the instructor’soffice or at the main office counter.Late assignments-GRADING CRITERIA:LetterGradeA+AA-B+BB-C+CC-PercentRange90-10085-8980-8476-7972-7568-7164-6760-6355-59Mid-Point95878277.583.569.565.562.557Represents work of exceptional quality. Content, organization and style are allat a high level. Student demonstrates excellent research and reference toliterature where appropriate. Also, student uses sound critical thinking, hasinnovative ideas on the subject and shows personal engagement with the topic.Represents work of good quality with no major weaknesses. Writing is clearand explicit and topic coverage and comprehension is more than adequate.Shows some degree of critical thinking and personal involvement in the work.Good use of existing knowledge on the subject.Adequate and average work. Shows fair comprehension of the subject, but hassome weaknesses in content, style and/or organization of the paper. Minimalcritical awareness or personal involvement in the work. Adequate use ofliterature.D 50-54 52 Minimally adequate work, barely at a passing level. Serious flaws in content,organization and/or style. Poor comprehension of the subject, and minimalinvolvement in the paper. Poor use of research and existing literature.F 0-49 Failing work. Inadequate for successful completion of the course or submittedbeyond final date of acceptance for paper.Course format will include a weekly learning circle. Students are expected to be ontime, to avoid disruption during the circle, which will start at the beginning of each class.Except for occasions when guest speaker are in attendance you are expected tocontribute to the learning of the group through your reflections, by discussing relevanceto social work practice.Attendance is required, and students missing more than three classes will not be ableto submit their final paper for grading in accordance with University calendar statementsregarding attendance.Page 6 of 6