Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Being

This course explores Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing which acknowledges not only knowledge development, but also how people interact with the world around them. Emphasis will also be placed on personal identity/positionality in relation to Indigenous knowledge development and creating opportunities to interact with the environmental, spiritual, and human realms. In this course, students will also recognize the importance of their personal identity, particularly cultural identity, belonging, and insistence/resistance from an Indigenous perspective and also for themselves. Through in-depth reflection, direct engagement in the community including a culturally immersive experience, class discussions, and course readings, students will gain awareness and insight into the importance of cultivating well-being and balance when considering issues of socio-cultural change for themselves and for Indigenous communities in Hawaiʻi and around the world.