Postgraduate Study in Indigenous Studies

Be an agent of change.

Indigenous Studies will broaden your understanding of the world as you explore humanity’s cultural diversity.

It will change your world view as you learn about indigenous cultures, histories and societies.

You will explore the dynamic living cultures of indigenous peoples and learn how indigenous knowledge systems can generate change that is sustainable, transformative and of benefit to everyone.

Why study Indigenous Studies?

Whether you want to learn about and promote the interests of indigenous people locally, or around the world, a major in Indigenous Studies will help you achieve this.

Through this programme you will learn the value of indigenous knowledge through the critical reading and research of selected indigenous societes and cultures in both historical and contemporary contexts. You will also examine how such knowledge may help support the varied interests and needs of contemporary indigenous people and communities as they engage with and manage the issues of living in the present world in order to sustain their peoples, cultures and communities into the future.

Indigenous knowledge has its place in every aspect of society. Wherever your interests lie, Indigenous Studies complements many fields of study and work, including:

• environmental sustainability
• resource management
• policy development
• education
• historical and cultural studies
• language revitalisation
• primary healthcare and preventative medicine
• economic wellbeing
• social and community development
• social research

Indigenous Studies encourages you to explore the connectivity between these disciplines and how their methodologies and intellectual genealogies can further enable indigenous communities to determine their own futures.

Graduates develop a multi-disciplinary, culturally inflected understanding of indigenous concepts and issues, including the use of co-operation rather than competition, and the importance of relationality and respecting differences.

Are you just starting uni?

Learn about studying Indigenous Studies as an undergraduate at Otago.

Contacts

Dr Paerau Warbrick
Programme Co-ordinator
Te Tumu, School of Māori, Pacific and Indigenous Studies
Tel +64 3 479 3973
Email paerau.warbrick@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/tetumu

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