Decolonizing Ireland: Youth and Community Revitalization

Irish colonization served as the blueprint for settler colonialism around the globe and resulted in a paradox wherein the Irish diaspora transitioned to a privileged colonizer status. At the same time, the Irish in Ireland, remained occupied, both experiencing and carrying the legacy of intergenerational trauma. Over the past few decades, Irish peoples in Ireland, often under the auspices of youth and community work in rural and Gaelic speaking areas, have engaged in a project of re-indigenization. Partnering with and hosting Indigenous peoples from around the globe, Ireland is reclaiming its indigeneity; revitalizing pre-colonial culture, governance structures, language, ecologies and lifeways.

During your time in Derry and Gaeltacht Regions, you will be encouraged to consider connections to international indigenous communities and youth, and specifically make connections to the context of the United States, Minnesota, and the University around ongoing tensions related to the enduring impacts of colonialism, land-back movements and indigenization.

You will stay in St. Columb's Park House in Derry, Hotel/Hostel in surrounding cities. Breakfast and some lunch included. Arrival and departure dinner.

April 27, 2026

Travel dates: August 15–29, 2026, followed by Fall Semester 2026 on-campus courses

You will explore the concepts of indigeneity and colonialism within the context of youth and community work in Ireland using tested practices of experiential and place-based learning. You'll close your time in Ireland by revisiting common narrations of Ireland as a site of political conflict and reconciliation in comparison to the Indigenous Ireland movement: an ongoing movement to reclaim and revitalize Irish land, language and lifeways and to build relationships with and responsibility to other international Indigenous communities.

Receive Credit for: YOST 3012/5012

This 3 credit course counts as Professional Core for the Youth Studies major, counts as an elective for the Youth Studies minor and Social Justice minor, and an elective towards the YDL program.

This course satisfies the global perspectives theme requirement.

Katie Johnston-Goodstar is Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Minnesota. Drawing on Indigenous, decolonial, and social justice frameworks, she collaborates with youth and community to engage social justice issues and build community wellness. Her most recent research projects include:

1. an Indigenous youth participatory action research (YPAR) project to transform public schooling;
2. a collective recovery of traditional ecological knowledge and lifeways to revitalize community wellness;
3. a YPAR project to disrupt sexual exploitation, and
4. an implementation science project exploring indigenized healthy eating and physical activity for youth to reduce health disparities.

Excursions may include:

• Derry City Walls
• Kinnagoe Bay
• Toraigh Island
• Derry & Donegal/Gaeltacht Regions

For more information contact, Lamia Shapiro at [email protected].

The cost of participation includes educational costs, registration fees, orientation, and international health insurance. It may also include airfare, housing, excursions, and some or all meals. The cost is estimated to be between $6,000–8,000.

You will need to budget for your passport and visa fees, meals that are not included, and personal spending money.

All applicants are charged a $50 non-refundable application fee. Confirmed students cancelling their participation (prior to program start date) will be billed for:

• 75 days or more prior to start date; $50 Application fee + $450 confirmation deposit + non-recoverable flight costs*
• 74–60 days prior to start date; $50 Application fee + $450 confirmation deposit + non-recoverable flight costs* + 25% of remaining program costs
• 59–45 days prior to start date; $50 Application fee + $450 confirmation deposit + non-recoverable flight costs* + 50% of remaining program costs
• 44–31 days prior to start date; $50 Application fee + $450 confirmation deposit + non-recoverable flight costs* + 75% of remaining program costs
• 30 days or less prior to start date; $50 Application fee + $450 confirmation deposit + non-recoverable flight costs* + 100% of remaining program costs

*Non-recoverable fight costs refer to those costs billed as a part of the overall program costs. It does not include any flight costs paid by students directly to airlines, travel agents etc.