These Canadian celebrities want you to take a FREE online course on Indigenous issues

Canadian celebrities have taken to social media in an attempt to encourage Canadians to further educate themselves on Indigenous issues. 

This morning, star of hit TV show Schitt’s Creek, Dan Levy, took to Twitter to tell his followers that he had enrolled in a free course offered by the University of Alberta entitled “Indigenous Canada.”

According to his post, the course consists of “12 lessons that explore Indigenous histories and contemporary issues from an Indigenous perspective.”

Only a few hours later, Canadian singer-songwriters Tegan and Sara did the same. 

“I just signed up for Indigenous Canada a new course from [The University of Alberta] and I agree with [The Native Women’s Association of Canada]’ that ‘change requires action and education.’ This is my first time going to “school” since 1998. So excited (and nervous),” wrote one half of the Canadian duo.

The course, offered by the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Native Studies, is completely free and online, making it accessible for anyone who wants to take it. 

Dr. Paul Gareau, an assistant professor at U of A, is teaching the course.

Dr. Gareau is a member of the “Métis and an assistant professor in the Faculty of Native Studies at the University of Alberta. His research and teaching centres on theory and methodology around religion and relationality, gender, Indigenous epistemologies, land and place, and sovereignty/peoplehood,” states the University of Alberta website. 

There are also a number of additional Indigenous scholars who will be presenting throughout the course.

The entire syllabus, broken down lesson by lesson, can be viewed here. Lessons include topics such as the fur trade, living traditions, Indigenous women, sovereign lands and more.

If you’re interested in taking Indigenous Canada alongside beloved Canadian celebrities-turned-students, you can find more information here.