224.631.73
Indigenous Harm Reduction
Location
Internet
Term
Winter Institute
Department
International Health
Credit(s)
2
Academic Year
2025 - 2026
Instruction Method
Synchronous Online
Start Date
Monday, January 12, 2026
End Date
Friday, January 16, 2026
M, Tu, W, Th, F, 3:00 - 6:30pm
Auditors Allowed
Yes, with instructor consent
Available to Undergraduate
No
Grading Restriction
Letter Grade or Pass/Fail
Course Instructor(s)
Contact Name
Frequency Schedule
Every Year
Resources
Prerequisite
No prerequisites for this course.
Enrollment Restriction
This course is not restricted.
Are you interested in learning more about how Indigenous communities across North America are conceptualizing, discussing, applying harm reduction principles, practices and approaches?
Explores the roots of addiction in Indigenous communities, and the strengths-based approaches that support positive change and honor community-based approaches to addressing the issue of increased substance use and overdose in Indigenous communities. Allows hearing from Indigenous leaders in this field, including frontline workers, people with lived/living experience, youth, Elders and academics. Evaluates perspectives on addiction and how they apply to Indigenous experiences. Articulates the impacts of colonization on addiction, increased substance use and overdose in Indigenous communities. Examines the system of prohibition and it’s role in creating an increased risk of overdose. Explores Indigenous harm reduction perspectives, approaches and programming.
Learning Objectives
Upon successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
- Evaluate perspectives on addiction and how they apply to Indigenous experiences.
- Analyze the impacts of colonization on addiction, increased substance use and overdose in Indigenous communities.
- Explain Indigenous harm reduction perspectives, approaches and programming.
- Explain Indigenous cultural and traditional values and their alignment with harm reduction perspectives, approaches and programming.
- Apply strengths and culturally-based approaches to address the crisis of increased substance use and overdose in Indigenous communities.
Upon successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
Methods of Assessment
This course is evaluated as follows:
- 10% Participation
- 20% Discussion
- 10% Homework
- 5% Peer-feedback
- 20% Reflection
- 35% Project(s)