This is a class designed by Indigenous faculty specifically for first-year Indigenous students. This seminar is part of an ongoing effort by UW faculty, staff, and students at the University of Washington to foster respect for Indigenous knowledge and support for Indigenous peoples on campus and in the surrounding area. This class will start by (re)considering who we are, where we come from, how we arrived at UW, and why it is important to learn and unlearn together via mutual recognition and respect. Significant to the learning/unlearning process, we will be visiting with Indigenous peoples, places, and spaces to nurture mutually sustainable relationships grounded in respect, reciprocity, relevance, and responsibility.

This course focuses on experiential learning, a process where students develop knowledge, skills, and values from direct experiences outside a traditional academic setting. Students will engage Indigenous peoples, stories, colonial histories, and current realities by engaging in a large variety of classroom and community-based activities. Our analysis and discussions will be placed within the context of resistance, cultural resiliency, strength, and survival. Increasing awareness of Indigenous cultures, histories, and practices is a fundamental part of ensuring that the University of Washington recognizes, values, and strengthens Indigenous futures.