Animate Landscapes: Spirits and Sovereignty in Indigenous Religions
RELI 306
Fall 2024
| Section:
01
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| Crosslisting:
ENVS 309, REES 306 |
Scientific understandings of the world are grounded in a distinction between animate beings and inanimate matter, but people all over the world have understood land and landscapes as alive and filled with agency. Indigenous religious practices often include relationships with mountains, rivers, glaciers, and other "other-than-human persons." Using case studies drawn from North America, Siberia, and Mongolia, and the instructor's fieldwork materials with place beings in Buryatia, we will explore the different relationships human beings have with animate and sacred landscapes and think about the ramifications these relationships have for thinking about sovereignty over and in the "natural" world. The course may involve a 4 day/3 night trip to Penikese Island off Cape Cod for an immersive learning experience with the Gull Island Institute during fall break (details tbd). The trip will be fully funded with no cost to the students (hence why it is still tbd). Although the trip is not yet confirmed, please be aware that the trip will be required, and in order to take the class you must be available to participate in this travel during fall break (10/19-10/22). |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS RELI |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Student Option |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (CSCT)(ENVS-MN)(ENVS)(RELI-MN)(RELI) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Selections from:
Elizabeth Povinelli, GEONTOLOGIES
Adele Barker, SOVEREIGNTIES MATTER
Caroline Humphrey and Urgunge Onon, SHAMANS AND ELDERS
Donatas Brandisauskas, LEAVING FOOTPRINTS IN THE TAIGA
Vine Deloria, Jr., Selected Readings
Other readings TBD
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Examinations and Assignments:
Two reflective essays
Nature Journaling assignment
Final Project (research paper or creative option)
Active class participation including 1 reading response presentation |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
This course fulfills the Historical Traditions or Method & Theory requirements for the Religion major.
To request a POI, please send a brief message to jquijada@wesleyan.edu, detailing your interest in the course and confirming your availability for the trip from 10/19-22.
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| Instructor(s): Quijada,Justine Times: ..T.R.. 01:20PM-02:40PM; Location: FISK312; |
Permission of Instructor Required
Enrollment capacity: 12 | Permission of instructor approval will be granted by the instructor during pre-registration through the Electronic Portfolio. Click "Add to My Courses" and "To request a POI electronically, click here" to submit your request. |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 1 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 1 |
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