Project Description: Emphasis will be placed on the cultural, practical and critical issues involved when using oral history methods. Topics include interview techniques, data collection and analysis, appropriation, ethics, protocol and global and regional examples of oral historical projects. Central to the course is the fact that Aboriginal oral histories continue to be told, retold, validated and interpreted within Aboriginal communities and also within cross-cultural contexts such as academic communities, the courts and in curriculum development. Students are given the opportunity to carry out a small-scale oral history project. At the end of the project students will be able to independently complete a research project.

Project Learning Outcome:

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Demonstrate critical thinking, observational and analytical skills;

2. Demonstrate written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills by actively participating seminars and engaging in critical discussion;

3. Demonstrate an understanding of interview techniques, data collection and analysis, ethics, protocol and global and regional examples of oral historical projects;

4. Identify issues related to oral history methodologies, particularly as it relates to Aboriginal peoples and communities.

Project Pre-requisite: There are some pre-requisite for this project. Students much have basic knowledge on Aboriginal history and politics and also foundational knowledge on conducting research with Aboriginal communities and interviewing Elders. Priorities will be given to students who have taken Introduction to Aboriginal Studies and Research Methodology in Aboriginal and Northern Studies Program courses with UCN. Students must have basic knowledge on Interview outlines and questions, OCAP principles, effective interviewing techniques, legal and ethical concerns of research.

Objectives: To acquire skills on oral history methodology, students will write a research proposal, complete the research ethics protocol, complete REB CORE tutorial, prepare interview questions, conduct one interview, analyze interview data and write the final research report. They can choose any topic related to Aboriginal history culture politics from the past and can interview one Elder.

Deliverable: Students will produce one paper at the end of the project.

I will be giving weekly lecture and hands on training on different steps of conducting research including ethics and principles of doing research with Aboriginal peoples in Canada.