"The intellectual focus is on the complex relationships that develop between Indigenous peoples, civil society and the environment in the context of market- and state-mandated development. The volume shows how the boundaries between Indigenous peoples’ organizations, civil society, the state, markets, development and the environment are ambiguous and constantly changing. It is this fact that lies at the heart of the political possibility of local agency, but also, ironically, of the possibility of undermining it.
"One of the limitations of economic development - with its emphasis on unlimited growth - is that it is pursued without any considerations as to its implications on ecosystems. The prevailing economic theories treat the economic process from a purely mechanistic standpoint. Different ways exist, however, to deal with the choices that humans have to make with respect to the allocation of resources, the distribution of its returns and the fulfilment of purposes of material progress.
The Certificate in Traditional Environmental Knowledge (TEK) is a multidisciplinary program allowing individuals to pursue their interests in TEK through a concentrated program of courses on First Nations and Environmental subjects. This program ladders well into a major in First Nations Studies, Anthropology, Biology, History, Education, English, Environmental Studies, Forestry, Geography, Nursing and Community Health, Political Science, Psychology, Social Work and Women's Studies as well as leading into majors in Physics and Chemistry.
