Indigeneity as a Global Concept (FutureLearn)

Indigeneity as a Global Concept (FutureLearn)

Learn about the contemporary social, cultural, economic and political situations of indigenous peoples. Explore the global economic and political situations of indigenous peoples. This fascinating three-week course will explore the contemporary social, cultural, economic and political situations of indigenous peoples all across the globe.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see FutureLearn's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

You’ll be introduced to definitions and parameters of indigenous peoples, and will engage with a wide range of case studies that illustrate indigenous peoples’ struggles.
Understand the different situations in which indigenous peoples coexist with non-indigenous peoples
Firstly, you’ll identify numerous past and present definitions of the much-contested phrase ‘indigeneity’, and will define the parameters that define indigenous peoples.
You’ll also engage with a range of case studies that illustrate indigenous peoples’ struggles, and will examine their relationship between indigenous peoples and non-indigenous peoples all across the globe.
Study postcolonial theory to see how colonialism has affected indigenous peoples
You’ll then get an insight into the impact of colonialism, imperialism and postcolonial theory for indigenous peoples, as well as the challenges facing indigenous peoples in today’s world, such as conflict over land and marine rights, reclamation of pre-colonial political boundaries and entities and co-existence with settler and migrant communities.
By investigating examples of 21st century land use struggles (such as the Brazilian ‘war of survival’), the course places a distinct emphasis on how contemporary challenges facing indigenous peoples continue to relate to urgent questions of land and land use.
Learn from anthropological experts at The University of Newcastle
Throughout the course you’ll be learning from experts within the field of indigeneity at the University of Newcastle, and will be able to ask them and fellow students for guidance throughout.

What topics will you cover?

  • Definitions of indigeneity, past and present
  • An introduction de-colonial and post-colonial theory and how these theories relate to indigenous peoples
  • Case studies of indigeneity in the 21st century
  • The legacy of European colonialism for indigenous peoples
  • Contemporary acts of indigenous resistance across the globe

What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Understand the different situations in which indigenous peoples coexist with other, non-indigenous peoples in various states and societies.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the different types of struggles which indigenous peoples are waging in the contemporary world
  • Collect, interpret and communicate information on indigenous issues to an audience

Who is the course for?
This course is particularly targeted at anyone interested in challenges currently facing indigenous peoples all around the world. This can include those interested in studying anthropology, postcolonial studies and environmental management or environmental humanities.

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

The Construction Industry: The Way Forward (Coursera) Coursera
Columbia University

The Construction Industry: The Way Forward (Coursera)

This course provides an introduction on types of the construction projects as well as the main concern of the productivity challenge in the construction industry. Through case studies, you will learn the industry characteristics and its unique environment that led to such productivity performance as well as touch base on other several examples of challenges we are facing internally in the industry.

Jun 1st 2026
5-12 Weeks
Salmon, People, and Place (edX) EdX
University of Alaska Fairbanks,AlaskaX

Salmon, People, and Place (edX)

This course explores the relationships between salmon and people with an emphasis on the special ties of salmon to Indigenous peoples and to Alaska Natives in particular. No wild animal has more profoundly influenced the cultures and well-being of societies in North America than salmon. Salmon and people have been entwined in a relationship for millennia. This six-week course is an exploration and celebration of this relationship, as well as an examination of the current major issues, including habitat alterations, climate change, and management actions currently straining the relationship between salmon and salmon-dependent people.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
Health and healthcare in transition: dilemmas of governance (Coursera) Coursera
National Research Tomsk State University

Health and healthcare in transition: dilemmas of governance (Coursera)

Our societies are changing. On one hand, unprecedented socio-demographic changes are underway: albeit unevenly across various settings, life expectancy continues to rise globally, facilitating the rise of numbers of people living with one or more chronic diseases. On the other hand, societies are undergoing major political transformations as well. Examples include the massive transition away from communism resulting from the dissolution of USSR and rise of participation societies in the EU, to name just a few.

Jul 18th 2022
5-12 Weeks
Casing the Joint: Introducing Histories of Crime (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
The University of Newcastle, Australia

Casing the Joint: Introducing Histories of Crime (FutureLearn)

Learn about historical approaches to the study of crime and punishment, particularly in Australia. Delve beyond true crime podcasts, books and television series Crime holds a special place in Australian history, having facilitated colonisation, provided its most celebrated anti-hero in Ned Kelly and been used to sell millions of newspapers, books and movie tickets.

No sessions available
3 Weeks
First Peoples to the Early Republic: Born in Colonialism (Canvas.net) Canvas Network
Seattle Central Community College

First Peoples to the Early Republic: Born in Colonialism (Canvas.net)

This course will explore Native American cultures and the impacts of colonial and U.S. government policies on them; European colonization with particular focus on the British in North America; the War for Independence against Britain and the framing of the U.S. Constitution; as well as the formation of political parties in the early republic.

No sessions available
No Information
Climate change and Indigenous People and local communities (Coursera) Coursera
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Climate change and Indigenous People and local communities (Coursera)

Climate change is a global phenomenon, but its impacts vary among different social groups, who perceive and adapt to climate change impacts in different ways. In this course, you will: a) understand the different debates around climate change impacts on Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLC); b) familiarize yourself with different impacts of climate change on IPLC, with the IPLC understanding of climate change impacts and with their strategies to adapt to climate change; and c) learn about different strategies to incorporate Indigenous peoples and local communities in climate change research and policy.

May 11th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Arctic Economy (Coursera) Coursera
University of Alberta,UiT The Arctic University of Norway

Arctic Economy (Coursera)

Arctic communities have diverse histories and roles in local, regional and global economies. However, the scope and scale of globalization has increased so quickly that vulnerable Arctic communities are facing new kinds of challenges to their survival. In this 3-week MOOC, a unique collaboration between the University of Alberta and UiT The Arctic University of Norway, you will investigate the challenges faced by Indigenous, North American, Russian and Nordic Arctic communities in a modern world. So join us as we venture above the 60th parallel North, and explore how these fascinating communities adjust to change while maintaining their ways of life, socio-economic histories, and cultural traditions.

May 25th 2026
4 Weeks