Course Title: Indigenous Sovereignty and Contemporary Land Policy

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Indigenous Sovereignty and Contemporary Land Policy

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
HUSO2066	City Campus	Postgraduate	365H Global, Urban and Social Studies	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2007, Sem 1 2009, Sem 2 2014, Sem 2 2019

Flexible Terms

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
HUSO2066	City Campus	Postgraduate	365H Global, Urban and Social Studies	Face-to-Face	PGRDFlex21 (All)
HUSO2066	City Campus	Postgraduate	365H Global, Urban and Social Studies	Face-to-Face	PGRDFlex23 (XXXX)
HUSO2066	City Campus	Postgraduate	365H Global, Urban and Social Studies	Face-to-Face	PGRDFlex24 (FF)
HUSO2210	City Campus	Undergraduate	365H Global, Urban and Social Studies	Face-to-Face	UGRDFlex23 (All)

Course Coordinator: Prof Libby Porter

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 3585

Course Coordinator Email: libby.porter@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: Building 8, Level 11

Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None

Course Description

All places on the continent now called Australia are Indigenous places. This means everyone in Australia is already in a relationship with Indigenous places, sovereignties and land-based knowledge systems, whether recognised or not. This course will help you understand historical and contemporary relationships between Indigenous peoples and place, and the responsibility of non-Indigenous society to that relationship. You will examine how the structure of settler-colonialism continually disrupts Indigenous relationships to place and the ways Indigenous peoples continuously assert their land-based sovereignties and practices in the face of that disruption. You will gain an understanding of contemporary legal and policy frameworks governing the relationship between Indigenous peoples and their lands including Native Title, Cultural Heritage and Indigenous Protected Areas. The course includes on Country learning with knowledge holders within Victoria to learn with traditional knowledge holders and land managers. Note: This course may involve field visits outside of Melbourne and may include travels costs. For Flex term delivery this may include multi-day field visits and accommodation costs.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

 

 

Course Learning Outcomes

On completion of the course you will be able to:

1. Describe and analyse a variety of ways in which non-Indigenous Australians can encounter the knowledge systems and land practices of Indigenous peoples 
2. Critically appreciate settler-colonialism, its impact on Indigenous land sovereignties and practices, and its role in contemporary policy 
3. Outline a well-informed perspective on the Indigenous Australian concept of ‘caring for country’ and its implications for contemporary land policy 
4. Critically examine strategies for working within existing legislative and policy frameworks to support Indigenous peoples’ place and land sovereignties and practices. 

     

Overview of Learning Activities

You will be actively engaged in learning that involves a range of activities including lectures, workshops, guest presentations, field visits, group discussion, and group and individual research. Some additional costs may be required for field study activities. 

Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems. 

A list of recommended learning resources will be provided by your lecturer, including books, journal articles and web resources. You will also be expected to seek further resources relevant to the focus of your own learning. 

There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal.

Overview of Assessment

You will be assessed on the above learning outcomes. You will be assessed on how well you meet the course’s learning outcomes and on your development against the program learning outcomes. Feedback will be given on all assessment tasks. 

Assessment Tasks: 

1. Critical reflection (20%) (individual task linked to CLO1) 
2. Conceptual analysis (40%) (individual task linked to CLO 2) 
3. Field study project (40%) (individual task linked to CLO 3 and 4) 

   

If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the Program Manager or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more. 

Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies, procedures and instructions.