Certificate in Land and Community-Based Research

This certificate combines Indigenous studies coursework with land-based learning delivered through Dechinta Centre for Research and Learning in partnership with the University of British Columbia's open studies program. The curriculum introduces Indigenous education and ways of knowing, critical perspectives on colonialism and Western knowledge systems in Canada, the centrality of land to Indigenous lifeways, and community protocols and practices around research, alongside topics such as decolonization, self-determination, Indigenous research methods, governance, legal traditions, ethics, and storytelling. Alongside this academic content, students build practical land-based skills, including harvesting and land stewardship, through direct mentorship from Elders and Knowledge Holders. Completing the certificate requires five accredited courses: two required core courses plus three elective option courses chosen from the program's course list. Teaching takes place at land-based camps that combine seminar-style instruction with field activities, and most sessions involve on-site living in canvas tents, with some hybrid delivery also offered. Courses run across three seasonal terms during the year, winter, summer, and fall, and students can complete the certificate over roughly one to two years, though there is no fixed completion deadline. The program suits students planning careers in teaching, non-profit work, land-based education, research, or leadership roles within their own or related communities.