Indigenous Internationalisms — BIG Summer Institutes

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.

• 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

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

"The BIG Summer Institutes program delivered an exceptionally practical learning experience led by engaging, well-chosen lecturers who are true professionals from industry — a rare and valuable combination. The diverse, global perspectives of fellow participants enriched discussions and created a dynamic, case-driven learning environment."

— Yuriy Kosmyna, Migration and Border Governance Senior Programme Specialist, IOM Mission in Ukraine

"The ability to learn from others in different regions is invaluable. We all have different strategies and challenges. This program helps bridge those gaps."

— Summer Institutes Participant, Tunisia

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Host or Publisher University of Victoria, Faculty of Social Sciences