Siksika Knowledge Courses in Development or Non-transfer Credit

Introduction to Archeology Field Studies
Credit hours: 3.0
Prerequisites: SK 200 or SK 294 (Recommended)

Credit hours: 3.0

This course will examine the use of geometry or patterns from nature and their application to Siksika arts and crafts. Included in this exploration will be the use of materials from the natural environment and the preparation of traditional pigments. An important part of this course is to gain an understanding of any related transfers of rites to create objects or to use designs or colors.

Prerequisites: None

Siksika Traditional Foods
Credit hours: 3.0

This course will help students to understand why Siksika people were healthy because of what they ate, for example, what the buffalo ate gave us healthy nutrients. The course will examine what other Siksika traditional foods were and what the nutritional value was of these foods. The course will include a study of how foods were prepared, stored and what utensils were used. The course will also examine the changes in diet and the impact on health trends.

Prerequisites: None

Introduction to Siksika Ceremonial Objects/ Artifacts/Photographs
Credit hours: 3.0

This course is designed to review where Siksika ceremonial objects/artifacts/ photographs and other items are, how they were acquired, how they are maintained and how they are accessed. This will include the process of repatriation. The course will look at the role that these ceremonial objects, artifacts, photographs and other objects played in history.

Prerequisites: None

The Significance and Evolution of Siksika Songs and Dances
Credit hours: 3.0

This course is designed to look at the role and evolution of songs and dances to Siksika people. Songs and dances are highly significant to Siksika life and the course will present about related protocol and rites; and as is common for Siksika practices, many transfers are involved to participate in the traditional dances. The students will understand what dances are traditional to Siksika and what dances have been adopted from other tribes. Students will have an opportunity to learn about the many types of songs and actually learn some songs. Drumming and related protocol will also be included in this course.

Prerequisites: None

Traditional Siksika Dress/Clothing
Credit hours: 3.0

This course will introduce the significance of transfers for certain outfits, accessories and adornments. The styles of clothing amongst the Siksika and the evolution of materials used will also be covered. Distinctive Siksika designs and colors will also be explored.

Prerequisites: None

Credit hours: 3.0

Traditional games were almost lost after colonization and the effortsto resurrect tribal cultural games as a means to promote the cultural values, native language, and well-being of the families will be explored.  There will be consultation with elders to re-establish Siksika traditional games. The benefits of re-introducing traditional games include helping to reconnect indigenous people to their culture and to encourage community members to become involved in physical activity in a cultural nurturing way.

Prerequisites:  None

Credit hours: 3.0

This course will look at what has been written about Siksika history from the past to the present. This includes studying about who is writing about Siksika. Furthermore, it will look at the First Nation writers that are publishing and what are they writing about to add to the larger knowledge base of society. The course is intended to encourage students to write and share their stories; everyone has a story to tell.

Prerequisites: None

Animals and their Relationship to Siksika People
Credit hours: 3.0

The course will cover the importance of the hunt, the Siksika relationship to animals and the natural world, the techniques and tools used and the protocol involved. The importance of different animals and their various parts and their influence on Siksika life will be covered in this course.

Prerequisites: None

Evolution of Tribal Enterprises and Entrepreneurs
Credit hours: 3.0

The Siksika people were self sufficient until their land base was reduced and the buffalo, “their supermarket,” disappeared. Students will explore the changes from the traditional economy of the Siksika to current individual and collective enterprises. Included will be an analysis of the traditional core values and practices that may not always fit with a modern day materialistic world.

Prerequisites: SK 200 or Equivalent