In this module, Professor Elizabeth Hoover examines how Native American communities are impacted by climate change and how they are actively resisting its causes and effects. You will explore how settler colonialism has shaped both environmental conditions and the lived experiences of Indigenous peoples. The module highlights the specific ways climate change affects Native communities, as well as efforts to resist fossil fuel extraction and build climate resilience. By the end, you will be able to connect these experiences to broader climate justice issues and better understand the strategies Indigenous communities use to protect their lands and futures.

In this module, Professor Beth Rose Middleton explores the connections between cultural burning and climate justice. You will examine how fire suppression policies are linked to the suppression of Indigenous peoples and how these histories shape present-day environmental challenges. The module compares cultural burning with prescribed burning, highlighting key similarities, differences, and the contexts in which each approach is used. You will also explore the challenges and opportunities facing cultural burn practitioners. By the end, you will develop a deeper understanding of the ecological and cultural knowledge embedded in these practices and the importance of respecting and supporting Indigenous-led approaches to land stewardship.