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Indigenous Economic Development. Artist - Leah Dorian

Every student enrolled in the Faculty of Engineering’s co-op program must complete an assignment one month prior to the official end of their work term. Typically, this is a reflection on their work-related experiences in the field, but this term, 60 co-op students have opted to take the Indigenous Canada MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) to develop a deeper understanding of Indigenous histories, perspectives and issues in Canada.

“We have described for you a mountain. We have shown you the path to the top. We call upon you to do the climbing.”  — the late Honourable Murray Sinclair, Ojibway Elder, lawyer, judge, former senator and chair of the National Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

The assignment serves, in part, to answer Sinclair’s call to “do the climbing” of listening, of learning and of taking action. The stated objective of the assignment is for students to integrate the knowledge gained from completing the course into their engineering career perspectives and practices.

“We all have responsibilities to Truth and Reconciliation, but further, the relationship between the engineering profession and Indigenous communities is significant for several reasons — ethical, social, environmental and cultural,” says , manager of Work-Integrated Learning (WIL), Co-op and Engineering Career Connections. “It is very important that our students deeply understand this. Respecting this relationship helps ensure that engineering practices contribute positively to society and support reconciliation efforts.”

Engineering projects often take place on or near traditional Indigenous lands, says Kuss, noting that Indigenous communities have unique worldviews, knowledge systems and cultural practices, and many communities maintain a close relationship with the natural environment. 

“Engineers (and students) working with these communities must prioritize sustainability and align projects with environmental values and long-term community well-being in order to co-manage environmental impact.” 

“As a civil engineer, most likely working in a land development-adjacent field in the future, it is important to me to understand the historical significance of those who occupied the land before me, and how to reconcile and move forward in the context of past wrongdoings.” —  fourth year civil and environmental engineering co-op student 

Indigenous Women. Artist - Leah Dorian

Although the MOOC can be started at any time, the co-op assignment, including the optional “Communities of Conversation” sessions, align with National Indigenous History Month in June — a national celebration of the history, heritage and diversity of First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples — and National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21).

The 60 student participants are also required to review Braiding Past, Present and Future: 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø Indigenous Strategic Plan and write a one-page reflection based on their experiences, or participate in a sharing circle with an Elder. Students may opt to do both. Twelve students have opted to participate in the sharing circle with an Elder as a culminating event and method of assessment for their co-op assignment. 

“This assignment is important to me because it encourages us to actively engage in reconciliation by listening to and learning from Indigenous voices, rather than remaining passive observers. By connecting this knowledge to our engineering careers, we take meaningful steps toward building respectful, inclusive practices that honour Indigenous histories and perspectives.”  —  fourth-year mining co-op student

The Indigenous Canada MOOC, created in 2017 by the U of A's Faculty of Native Studies,   continues to be one of the most popular online courses in Canada and is available free to anyone, anywhere. As Kuss notes, for many students, the MOOC is their first authentic introduction to Indigenous history. 

“Without understanding the truth, there can be no reconciliation. Respect and collaboration is the only way to engage.” 

Learn more about the Faculty of Engineering’s co-op program here. 

Six original artworks were commissioned from , a Métis artist based in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, to help tell the stories contained in Indigenous Canada. Leah's understanding of the importance of symbols and images in telling cultural knowledge, along with community input, guided her in developing each piece.