American Indian Studies

Catalog description

This course introduces students to the interdisciplinary field of American Indian Studies. The course covers three general areas related to American Indians. The first part of the course explores American Indian lifeways before sustained European invasion. The second part examines the dramatic consequences of invasion between 1492 and 1850, and includes an examination of Indian slavery, removal and reservation, and genocide. Special attention will be given to how American ideology, politics, and economic interests shaped Indian policies and practices. The third part examines the more critical issues facing American Indians, such as federal recognition, racism in the media, and poverty. Because American Indian women remain one of the most disadvantaged groups in the United States, the course pays particular attention to the consequences of Indian boarding schools and inadequate health care for Indian women. Each part will includes readings written from the perspectives of American Indians.