Land, sovereignty, and sociological literacy: indigenizing introduction to sociology

Cynthia Fabrizio Pelak

Chapter 19 in Teaching Introduction to Sociology, 2026, pp 221-234 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: In this chapter, I explore the rationales, benefits, and three strategies for reckoning with enduring structures and cultural logics of settler colonialism in Introduction to Sociology classrooms. Drawing on the scholarly literature of Indigenous sociologies and teaching experiences of resisting assimilationist curriculum in my sociology courses, I offer a theoretically informed reflection on integrating Indigenous knowledge and ways of knowing into Introduction to Sociology. I build a case for indigenizing the curriculum based on three concrete pedagogical strategies relevant to Ferguson's (2016) Sociological Literacy Framework (SLF): (1) teaching the concept of settler colonialism in relation to the six essential sociological concepts of the SLF, (2) adding land literacy as a core competency in teaching introductory sociology along with the six essential competencies identified in the SLF, and (3) centering a healing-informed pedagogical framework of Indigenous resurgence and resilience to teach and learn about Indigenous peoples’ sovereignty and experiences in the United States, and Indigenous-settler relations in settler-colonial societies.

Keywords: Indigenization; Decolonization; Settler Colonialism; Indigenous Resurgence; Land Literacy; Moves to Accountability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035355778
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