ES 256 Introduction to Native American Studies

This class will use interdisciplinary approaches to understand Native American lives, examining Native American identities, practices, histories, cultures, and political statuses in context. This course examines the ongoing impact of colonialism on indigenous peoples in the U.S. Identity, citizenship, sovereignty, treaty rights, land/resource ownership and use, political activism, education, and economic issues are explored. This course also looks at alliance-building among indigenous peoples and other groups here and abroad.

Credits

4

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to:
1. Summarize the basic principles of Indigenous political status, tribal sovereignty, settler colonialism, federal Indian policy, and treaty rights
2. Examine Indigenous histories, activism and resistance, as well as environmental and cultural concerns
3. Relate ideologies of colonial and racial identities and attributes to the social construction of “nativeness”
4. Explain contemporary issues concerning indigenous populations in the U.S. within the context of American political, ideological discourses, popular culture, and media