Assessment

Percent

Details

Due Date

Participation

10%

Assessment is based on regular class attendance, active engagement with course content, and relevant and

thoughtful contributions to in-class discussions and activities.

Ongoing

Reconciliation Essay

20%

Based on First Nations 101, write a 4 to 5-page double-spaced essay on

reconciliation in Canada. How would you describe the ongoing

relationship between Indigenous

peoples and Canada? What is

reconciliation? Why is reconciliation necessary in Canada? Why has

reconciliation become national and

institutional policy? Is reconciliation achievable? If so, what will it take to achieve reconciliation in Canadian

society? Think reflexively about your positionality: What is your role in

reconciliation? Use First Nations 101 plus additional research to back up

your arguments. Cite your references and use ASA style.

2026-01-29

Critical Reflection

20%

Use the assigned content from Week 5 and Week 6 to write a 4 to 5-page double-spaced essay that critically

reflects on the history of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Think about

what you have been taught about

this region before taking this course:

which narratives stuck with you and why? Where did that knowledge

come from? Do you think it was an

adequate education-why or why

not? Now that you have learned

about this region from an Indigenous perspective, what have you learned about Indigenous peoples, cultures, societies, and territories in the GTA? What is the treaty status of the GTA? Wha does it mean to be in treaty

relationship with Indigenous lands

and peoples? How has your

interpretation of the GTA and

Indigenous rights changed with this new knowledge? Why is this

information important for your

learning as a person living in the GTA and as a student at UTM? Use

examples from the assigned content to back up your critical reflections.

Cite your references and use ASA style.

2026-02-12

Research Proposal & Annotated

Bibliography

25%

Write a 1-page single-spaced

research proposal for your final

paper. You must choose a topic that both relates to your major/minor    field of study and contributes to

Indigenous Studies scholarship.

Briefly outline your proposed

research topic and explain your

interest. Think about your degree

program(s): how can Indigenous

Studies research help you to become

2026-03-05

more competent in your field of

study and prepare you for your

future career? Furthermore, how

relevant is your research topic to the field of Indigenous Studies? What are your main research questions? What theories and methods will you or

could you use to investigate your

research topic and why? At the end

of your proposal, include an

annotated bibliography of five (5)

peer-reviewed Indigenous Studies

sources that you are considering for your final research paper. The five

sources cannot be based on assigned course content-they must be

academic sources that you have

sourced and researched yourself. Like all bibliographies, each source must be listed in alphabetical order

according to the first author's last name. An annotated bibliography entry consists of two components:

first a citation, then an annotation.

Use ASA style to cite the source, and follow it with an annotation of the

source (one paragraph, approx. 250 words). The annotation paragraph

must include a descriptive summary and critical evaluation of the source. You must briefly describe and

summarize the topics and/or issues addressed, main research

question(s), theories and methods

used, analyses, key findings, and

conclusions. You must also assess the strengths and weaknesses plus the

value and relevance of the source for your final paper.

Final Paper

25%

Write an 8 to 10-page double-spaced research paper on a topic that both

2026-04-02

relates to your major/minor field of study and contributes to Indigenous Studies scholarship. You are strongly encouraged to discuss your research ideas with the Professor or Teaching Assistant early on and throughout

the course and also consult the

Sociology Department's Librarian

Liaison for research support long

before the due date. If writing is a

challenge, please also utilize the

various academic skills supports from UTM's RGASC ahead of time.