Indigenous Environmental Management
Complete the foundational courses in this certificate program and then branch out into a Science or Business Administration degree program.
Completion of this certificate is valuable for students who want to work in environmental management and science and learn time management skills for success in higher education.
Holistic Worldview
Indigenous environmental management in Canada is grounded in a holistic worldview that sees humans as part of an interconnected web of relationships with the land, water, animals, and spiritual forces. Rather than separating ecological, social, and spiritual dimensions, this program approaches stewardship as a responsibility based on reciprocity and respect. This perspective emphasizes sustainability across generations.
Knoweldge Keepers and Oral Histories
Elders play a central role in maintaining and transmitting this knowledge. They are respected as knowledge keepers who hold oral histories, cultural teachings, and practical ecological insights. Their wisdom is shared through storytelling, ceremonies, and direct mentorship, often in land-based learning contexts such as hunting, fishing, or gathering activities.
Co-managed Environmental Frameworks
In recent decades, Indigenous environmental management has increasingly been recognized in Canadian policy and co-management frameworks. Collaborative arrangements between Indigenous Nations and federal or provincial governments—such as co-managed parks and wildlife boards—incorporate Elder knowledge alongside Western scientific approaches. This blending, often referred to as “Two-Eyed Seeing,” values both knowledge systems equally.
Quick Facts
Required Courses
| COURSE CODE | COURSE NAME |
|---|---|
| ADMN 100 | Introduction to Administration |
| ADMN 225 | First Nations Economic Development |
| One of: ACAD 100 ENGL 100 INDG 104 |
Academic Discourse: Writing, Research, and Learning Strategies Critical Reading and Writing I Introduction to Indigenous Higher Learning |
| ENVS 100 | Introduction to Indigenous Environmental Science |
| ENVS 200 | Indigenous Environmental Law |
| INDG 100 | Introduction to Indigenous Studies |
| Indigenous Language 100 level | Any Course |
| Two of: MATH 102 MATH 103 or MATH 110 STAT 100 or STAT 160 |
Mathematical Modelling and Precalculus Applied Calculus I Calculus I Elementary Statistics for Applications Introductory Statistics |
| One of: BIOL 100 BIOL 101 CHEM 104 CHEM 105 CHEM 140 ECON 273 GES 200 INDG 236 PHIL 275 SOC 230 WGST 201 |
Biology I - From Cells to Organisms Biology II - Organisms in their Environment General Chemistry I General Chemistry II Organic Chemistry I Environmental Economics Introduction to Environmental Studies Indigenous Economic, Environmental, and Geographic Systems Environmental Ethics Environment and Society Women, the Environment and Change |
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