The Fourth World Institute covers a broad range of course topics from Fourth World Geopolitics, to Consciousness Studies, Political Economy of Nations, World Indigenous Peoples' Studies, Globalization and the Fourth World, Climate Change and Environmental Diplomacy, Fourth World History, and Cultural Studies.

Fourth World Women's Activism

In fourth world/indigenous nations, women have generally been held in higher regard than their counterparts in patriarchal states throughout history. This is visible in today's global social movements--most notably the climate and environmental justice, and food sovereignty movements. They are based in the traditional knowledge systems of indigenous peoples, and have culminated in discourses of indigenous feminism. 

This course is  design to familiarize students with historical and current social realities of political activism among fourth world and indigenous women, with a particular focus on Indigenous women in the US, Canada, and Hawaii.  Learners will be introduced to the concept of feminist theory and indigenous feminism in particular as a basis for understanding the context of indigenous female activism. The course is divided into three sections: feminism(s); activism, social movements, and politics; and issues.  Through the integration of these categories you will learn how indigenous histories, cultures, politics, and activism are woven together into the seamless whole that are the lives of indigenous women. 

FI250 Comparative Fourth World Nations: The Ground Up Self-Determination, Self-government & International Law

How are nations the same and how are they different? As the rights of Fourth World Nations become the central debate when nations and states seek to implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the diverse nature of Fourth World nations in their governance, internal cultures, external relations goals, and aspirations will become more pronounced. The diversity itself will challenge nations in their relations to each other and relations with states.

FI300 - Fourth World Geopolitics and Climate Change

The main objective of the course is to provide students with a critical awareness of the symbiotic relationship between biological and Fourth World cultural diversity, and how the interaction between them contributes to the resilience and health of our planet and the significance of Fourth World nations occupying 80% of the World’s remaining biodiversity while states seek to consume more and more raw materials.

FI350 - Environmental Diplomacy and Climate Change

Self enrolment
By Arrangement:

This is a six week seminar offering Certificate and Graduate learners the opportunity to directly engage the domestic and international dialog concerning effective negotiations of mitigation and adaption strategies responding to the adverse effects of climate change.

FI380 - The Political Development of American Indians Nations

Self enrolment
This course explores pre- and post-colonial indigenous political development (including a survey of the political development literature); arguments that present limitations to the political development thesis; political development through the colonial lens of the American government; political economy and capitalism; environmental justice; and political development in the context of the international political landscape.

FI500 - Consciousness and the Living Universe

This course is a discussion of the intimate relationship between consciousness, life and the universe based in Ancient Knowledge Systems. When we say we understand, or when we say we know, that is the moment when we can measure the breadth of our comprehension. Culture and the appreciation of human culture are the essential ingredients in our discourse. It is with full appreciation of these ingredients that we will examine modes of thought, myth, metaphor,
and approaches to mediating the mundane and the sublime as we explore consciousness in the living universe: the sciences of ancient cultures.

Enrollment: Independent Learners (3 Learner Units), Certificate Learners (3 Learner Units), Graduate Learners (6 Academic Credits)