Native American Culture

Catalog description

This course provides a general overview of traditional American Indian cultures and societies in North America. The course examines the rich complexity and diversity of American Indian societies through the study of the social structures, political systems, religious beliefs, and cultural practices of various tribal groups. There is a particular emphasis on Native American oral traditions (e.g., myths, legends, oratory, and songs) and how these reflect the worldviews of the cultures that created them. Students are also introduced to the anthropological methods and theories that are used to study American Indian cultures.