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First Nation Applied Economics Certificate
The First Nation Applied Economics Certificate provides foundational knowledge and skills to assist in the development of First Nation economic infrastructure, in particular the development of residential and commercial enterprises.
The program will be of interest to people in First Nation economic development roles; those doing business with First Nations; and local, provincial or federal government employees involved with First Nation development.
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this program, students are able to:
- Apply basic microeconomic and macroeconomics principles to problems in First Nation economic development.
- Discuss issues in First Nation economics as they related to market failure and poverty.
- Design and execute a successful residential and commercial property development plan.
- Promote and facilitate investment activity on First Nations lands by reducing the high transaction costs associated with private and public investment.
- Conduct an economic feasibility and impact analysis of a development project on First Nation lands.
- Prepare and present reports relating to investment proposals.
Learning options
The First Nation Applied Economic Certificate is a joint initiative of the Tulo Centre of Indigenous Economics, the First Nations Tax Commission and Thompson Rivers University (TRU).
The certificate is a blended program with three of six courses taken at TRU’s campus in Kamloops, BC. These courses are offered as one-week intensive seminars and are led by an experienced Tulo facilitator. Class sizes are small and students benefit greatly from extensive interaction with their instructor and other students who share the common goal of promoting social and economic development on First Nation lands.
The remaining courses do not require the same high level of interaction and are completed through distance education in an independent study, continuous intake format. Students can enrol in these courses at any time with the necessary prerequisites and can complete them over a flexible time frame that suits their family and work commitments. Each course has a tutor who answers students’ questions and marks all assignments and exams. Access to the course materials and contact with the tutor normally occurs through the web and email, so a high speed Internet connection is recommended. If that is not possible, print materials can be provided and communications can take place by phone.
Admission requirements
- Pre-calculus Mathematics 11 or Foundations of Mathematics 11 with a minimum C+ or equivalent
- English 12/English 12 First Peoples with a minimum of 73% or equivalent
- Basic computer literacy with exposure to word processing and spreadsheet application software
Students may commence their studies while they upgrade their English mathematics, and and computing skills.
Program content
| One of the following: |
ENGL 1021 Composition and Indigenous Literature in Canada IENGL 1021 Composition and Indigenous Literature in Canada ICredits: 3 credits This course introduces students to an exciting range of Indigenous Canadian literature and orature, including autobiographies, speeches, essays, short stories and storytelling. Students will also have the opportunity to listen to audio CDs of interviews and readings by many of the authors studied in the course, and view a video of a storytelling performance, and an interview with a contemporary Indigenous multimedia artist.
Prerequisites: English Studies 12 or equivalent.
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ENGL 1100 Introduction to University Writing (3,0,0)ENGL 1100 Introduction to University Writing (3,0,0)Credits: 3 credits Students explore the practices of reading and writing in scholarly contexts by investigating a chosen topic or issue. Students read, critically analyze, and synthesize information and ideas found in appropriate secondary sources and coming from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds. They also develop their abilities to communicate knowledge by composing in the genres and sub-genres of scholarly writing, including the incorporation of research and documentation while using a clear, persuasive, grammatically-correct style.
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ENGL 1101 Introduction to University WritingENGL 1101 Introduction to University WritingCredits: 3 credits Students explore the practices of reading and writing in scholarly contexts by investigating a chosen topic or issue. Students read, critically analyze, and synthesize information and ideas found in appropriate secondary sources and coming from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds. They also develop their abilities to communicate knowledge by composing in the genres and sub-genres of scholarly writing, including the incorporation of research and documentation while using a clear, persuasive, grammatically-correct style.
Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for the course, but English Studies 12/English First Peoples 12 with a minimum of 73% or equivalent is recommended.
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CMNS 1810 Professional and Academic Composition (3,0,0)CMNS 1810 Professional and Academic Composition (3,0,0)Credits: 3 credits Students learn the theory and practice of successful academic and professional writing. Students compare and apply techniques involved in writing for business and academic purposes, learning skills in audience assessment, document planning and design, research, and effective writing. Students complete assignments ranging from academic essays to a variety of professional communication documents.
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CMNS 1811 Professional and Academic CompositionCMNS 1811 Professional and Academic CompositionCredits: 3 credits Students learn the theory and practice of successful academic and professional writing. Students compare and apply techniques involved in writing for business and academic purposes, learning skills in audience assessment, document planning and design, research, and effective writing. Students complete assignments ranging from academic essays to a variety of professional communication documents.
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| One of the following: |
ECON 1220 Introduction to Basic Economics (3,0,0)ECON 1220 Introduction to Basic Economics (3,0,0)Credits: 3 credits Students develop a basic understanding of economic principles, which allows for and encourages informed discussion of media-covered issues. Topics include contrasting macroeconomics and microeconomics; gross domestic product; economic growth and business cycles; unemployment and inflation; aggregate supply and demand; scarcity, opportunity costs, globalization and trade; law of supply and demand; accounting versus economic profits; money and exchange rates; government choices, markets, efficiency, and equity; monopoly and competition; externalities, public goods, and free riders.
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ECON 1221 Introduction to Basic EconomicsECON 1221 Introduction to Basic EconomicsCredits: 3 credits Students develop a basic understanding of economic principles, which allows for and encourages informed discussion of media-covered issues. Topics include contrasting macroeconomics and microeconomics; gross domestic product; economic growth and business cycles; unemployment and inflation; aggregate supply and demand; scarcity, opportunity costs, and trade; law of supply and demand; accounting versus economic profits; money and exchange rates; government choices, markets, efficiency, and equity; monopoly and competition; externalities, public goods, and free riders; and globalization and trade policy.
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| One of the following: |
ECON 2630 Topics in Indigenous Economics (3,0,0)ECON 2630 Topics in Indigenous Economics (3,0,0)Credits: 3 credits Students investigate topics related to Indigenous self-governance and economic development in Canada, New Zealand, United States and Australia. Topics include the economic rationale for implementing Indigenous government and jurisdiction ; the economic explanation for income differences for Indigenous groups and; the emerging Indigenous public sector; market failures and successes of First Nations & Indigenous communities; approaches to First Nations & Indigenous economic development; and Indigenous and other policy initiatives to improve Indigenous economies; and design Indigenous governments to support sustainable economies.
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ECON 2631 Topics in Indigenous EconomicsECON 2631 Topics in Indigenous EconomicsCredits: 3 credits
Students investigate topics related to Indigenous self-governance and economic development in Canada, New Zealand, United States and Australia. Topics include the economic rationale for implementing Indigenous government and jurisdiction ; the economic explanation for income differences for Indigenous groups and; the emerging Indigenous public sector; market failures and successes of First Nations & Indigenous communities; approaches to First Nations & Indigenous economic development; and Indigenous and other policy initiatives to improve Indigenous economies; and design Indigenous governments to support sustainable economies.
Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for the course, but ECON 1221 or ECON 1901, and ECON 1951 are recommended.
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| All of the following: |
APEC 2640 Residential and Commercial Development on Indigenous peoples Lands (3,0,0)APEC 2640 Residential and Commercial Development on Indigenous peoples Lands (3,0,0)Credits: 3 credits Students examine residential and commercial development on Indigenous peoples lands, using the Indian Act, the First Nation Fiscal Management Act (FMA), and the First Nation Land Management Act (FNLMA). Some of the legal, administrative, and financing infrastructure gaps in the Indian Act that inhibit residential and commercial development are highlighted, and strategies to overcome these legal barriers are explored. Topics include investment on Indigenous peoples lands; Indigenous peoples property rights; land management and development on Indigenous peoples lands; and a case study in Indigenous peoples development negotiations.
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APEC 2650 Investment Facilitation on Indigenous peoples Lands (3,0,0)APEC 2650 Investment Facilitation on Indigenous peoples Lands (3,0,0)Credits: 3 credits Students study the interests of public and private investors and what can be done to attract investment on Indigenous peoples lands. Given that is it four to six times more expensive to facilitate investment for Indigenous peoples projects, emphasis is placed on solutions to reduce investment transaction costs. Topics include transaction costs and economic growth; the legal and administrative framework to facilitate investment; building infrastructure; and creating an investment facilitation work plan.
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APEC 2660 Development on Indigenous peoples Lands (3,0,0)APEC 2660 Development on Indigenous peoples Lands (3,0,0)Credits: 3 credits Students examine the economic and fiscal impacts on Indigenous peoples of existing or proposed resource projects within their territories. They also investigate how Indigenous peoples can successfully negotiate agreements and mediate disputes so to maximize the benefit of these agreements for their communities. Topics include an introduction to resource economics; fiscal and economic impacts of resource projects; environmental review of resource projects; and resource project interest-based negotiation and dispute resolution. The course incorporates examples and case studies of actual Indigenous peoples resource agreements and disputes. It culminates in a Indigenous peoples resource project negotiation simulation and role play.
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APEC 2670 Indigenous peoples Fiscal Relationship and Economic Development (3,0,0)APEC 2670 Indigenous peoples Fiscal Relationship and Economic Development (3,0,0)Credits: 3 credits Students examine how current Indigenous peoples fiscal relationships limit economic growth and development in their communities and the changes that can be made to current public finance policies and systems to address this concern. They are also introduced to the key knowledge and skills necessary to participate in negotiating a new Indigenous peoples fiscal relationship and to help successfully implement it in their communities. Topics include a history of Indigenous peoples Fiscal relationship; public finance in Canada; problems with the Indigenous peoples fiscal relationship; options to improve the Indigenous peoples fiscal relationship; and Indigenous peoples and other government public finance and fiscal interests. The capstone of the course is a Indigenous peoples fiscal relations negotiation role play.
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APEC 2700 Economic Feasibility and Impact Analysis on Indigenous peoples Lands (3,0,0)APEC 2700 Economic Feasibility and Impact Analysis on Indigenous peoples Lands (3,0,0)Credits: 3 credits Students examine cost-benefit analysis and how it can be used to evaluate the economic feasibility and impact of investments on Indigenous peoples lands. Knowledge and skills relating to the time value of money and basic statistical concepts will be developed. Topics include the investment climate and economic strategies; fiscal benefits estimates; estimating economic impacts of investment; cost-benefit analysis fundamentals; and presentation of a cost-benefit assessment.
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Note: Normally ENGL 1021, ECON 1221, ECON 2631, and the English requirement are taken through distance education while the remaining courses are completed on campus.
