URL: https://www.uvic.ca/ecs/civil/assets/docs/course-outlines/cive412.pdf
This Resource
Description: A senior civil engineering course at the University of Victoria that introduces concepts and procedures for designing, building, operating, and maintaining infrastructure within Indigenous communities in Canada, including political context and relationship-building.
Course code and title: CIVE 412 – Infrastructure Engineering for Indigenous Communities
Instructor / facilitator: Kear Porttris
Institution: University of Victoria
Department / faculty: Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering
Year of study: 4th year
Delivery format: Blended (Lecture, guest speakers, community tours, field-based)
Duration: Full semester
Enrolment: Enrolled students only
First year offered: 2020
Key topics: Infrastructure development on First Nations reserves; funding proposals for infrastructure grants; business establishment in Indigenous communities; construction and maintenance planning; residential building feasibility; renewable energy projects; the Indian Act; relationship-building with community leaders
Learning outcomes: Write proposals to apply for funding for infrastructure development grants on First Nations reserves; describe and apply the rules for business establishment in Indigenous communities; develop construction and maintenance plans for projects in Indigenous communities; develop feasibility plans for residential building in Indigenous communities; plan renewable energy projects in Indigenous communities
Why this resource matters: It bridges the gap between high-level institutional goals and classroom reality by offering a practical, ready-to-use framework tailored specifically for engineering faculty. It includes concrete examples of how to bring these perspectives into technical courses.
Connection to Indigenous Knowledge
How this resource connects to indigenous perspectives: This course is built entirely around engineering work within and for Indigenous communities. It integrates community tours, guest lectures from Indigenous leaders, and a community-based final project presented directly to community members, administrative staff, and professionals. The course requires reflection papers on these interactions and emphasizes that project documents should be accessible to readers without engineering backgrounds. The recommended text is “21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act” by Bob Joseph.
Indigenous communities or nations involved: Lekwungen peoples (on whose territory UVic stands); Songhees, Esquimalt, and WSANEC peoples; additional First Nations communities engaged through the final project
Metadata
Contributor / submitted by: Dr. Farnaz Sadeghpour (as a sample)
Date added: April 30, 2026
Correction?
Do you have a correction for this resource?
