EGMT 1540: Whose Land? Settler Histories, Indigenous Futures

Instructor: 
How well do you know the land that you are walking on? Who was here before you, and who is coming next? In this course, we will ask what our responsibilities are to the past—and the future—of the land where we live, study, and work. Given the centrality of land to almost every facet of the human experience, this course explores questions that are relevant across multiple disciplines ranging from the humanities to the law and business. We will grapple with the histories of settler colonialism that have shaped the world’s landscapes while also reimagining how we might work together to create a better future. In the process, you will begin building a working understanding of what an ethical engagement with Indigenous communities in Charlottesville and around the globe may look like—an understanding that you will adjust and refine for the rest of your life. The course will include various engagements with the Monacan Indian Nation, Monticello, or the Black and Indigenous Feminist Futures Institute, and conclude with a collaborative creative project.