Indigenous Internationalisms — BIG Summer Institutes

Examine Indigenous nations' diplomacies, sovereignty, and cross-border relationships beyond state borders. Victoria & online, July 2026.
About this Event

Indigenous nations have always maintained relationships that cross state borders — through trade, diplomacy, treaties, and kinship. Today, these relationships are at the centre of important policy debates about sovereignty, self-determination, and the rights of Indigenous peoples at and across borders.

This course centres Indigenous perspectives and knowledge systems to examine how state borders affect Indigenous communities and how Indigenous nations are asserting their international relationships. Drawing on perspectives from across Turtle Island and beyond, each session combines short lectures, discussion, and applied exercises.

What you'll learn

• How Indigenous nations practise internationalism through trade, diplomacy, treaties, and acts of solidarity
• The history and legacy of Indigenous activism movements and their impact on border policy
• How the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) is being implemented at borders
• How Indigenous land rights intersect with international law and state jurisdiction
• The effects of state borders on the safety, sovereignty, and self-determination of Indigenous peoples
• How Indigenous environmental knowledge connects to cross-border land and water governance
• Case studies from First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples across Turtle Island and beyond

About BIG_Lab

BIG_Lab is an international policy and research network based at the University of Victoria, Canada, dedicated to advancing border governance worldwide. Now in its 6th year, the BIG Summer Institutes have brought together 50+ expert speakers and 500+ participants from 30+ countries. Learn more at www.biglobalization.ca

Testimonials from BIG_Lab Summer Institute participants

"The fellowship has greatly broadened my understanding of global border issues and strengthened my commitment to advancing inclusive and interdisciplinary approaches in my own work. I am truly thankful for the support, mentorship, and collaborative environment that the BIG Lab fosters."

— S.L. Chikomo, Lecturer, Ezekiel Guti University, Zimbabwe

"The Borders in Globalization Summer Institutes played a central role in shaping my research and professional path."

— Paola Malaspina, Educator and Policy Researcher, Houston, Texas