James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2024

IA3024 - Indigenous Narratives in the Contemporary Era

Subject Description

In this subject students will engage in deeper analysis of the complexity of the contemporary Indigenous position through examination of the goals and conceptual basis of some major narratives of the post-1967 era. The selected narratives represent Indigenous contestation with the continuing terms and conditions of the Australian nation-state and efforts to redress the ongoing legacy of colonial injustice. A focus is placed on the complex entanglements of key Indigenous goals with Western concepts, laws, knowledge and discourses. Students will critically engage with the strengths and limits of Indigenous contestation within the boundaries of non-Indigenous knowledge, law, bureaucratic, and public discourses. Major narratives include self-determination, Indigenous rights, sovereignty and treaty, land and sea rights and native title, identity, cultural difference, positive discrimination, reconciliation, constitutional recognition. This is a third year subject.

Learning Outcomes

• deconstruct the complex conceptual entanglements that frame Indigenous people's relations and negotiations with the nation-state and its social institutions
• identify and analyse the evidence of complexity in contemporary fields of debate
• apply productive dispositions and communication skills required to discuss and navigate complex knowledge intersections in professional and other everyday spaces, appropriate to Level 3 study
• critically engage with the strengths and limits of Indigenous contestation within the boundaries of non-Indigenous knowledge, law, bureaucratic and public disclosures

Subject Assessment

• Tutorial participation and annotations - (25%) - Individual
• Performance/Practice/Product > Portfolio - (40%) - Individual
• Narrative analysis and presentation - (35%) - Individual

Note that minor variations might occur due to the continuous subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.

Availabilities