Native American Studies
Mary Hillaire, the program’s principal architect, envisioned the area as a way to prepare learners to be able “to lead a genuinely human life with respect to important human relationships to the land, others, work and the unknown in recognition of the fact that as you give, you teach others to give.” That vision holds for the proposed programs of the Specialty Area’s second 20 year cycle:
1994-95 HOME: The Hospitality of the Land | David Whitener |
1995-96 CO-EXISTENCE: A Hospitable Relationship to Others | David Whitener |
1996-97 COMMUNITY: Time, Space, People and Place | David Rutledge, Yvonne Peterson, Raul Nakasone, Rainer Hasenstab, David Whitener |
1997-98 IMAGES: Physical Speculations on Unknown Conditions | Alan Parker, Yvonne Peterson, Gary Peterson, Gail Tremblay, David Rutledge |
1998-99 REGENERATION: A Celebration with the Land | - |
1999-00 HONOR: The Celebration of Others | - |
2000-01 HISTORY: A Celebration of Place | Raul Nakasone, David Rutledge, Yvonne Peterson (Liaison with RB program) |
2001-02 DESTINY: Welcoming the Unknown | Kristina Ackley, Raul Nakasone (Fall 2001), Gary Peterson |
2002-03 RESPECT: A Process of Universal Humanity | David Rutledge, Raul Nakasone |
2003-04 RECOGNITION: The Politics of Human Exchange | Gary Peterson, David Rutledge and Raul Nakasone |
2004-05 PATIENCE: A Survival Process for an Unknown Future | Gary Peterson, David Rutledge and Raul Nakasone |
2005-06 RECONCILIATION: A Process of Human Balance | Yvonne Peterson, David Rutledge and Raul Nakasone |
2006-07 HERITAGE: Self-Identity and Ties to the Land | Yvonne Peterson, David Rutledge and Raul Nakasone |
2007-08 FAMILY: Inspiration of Significant Others | Yvonne Peterson, David Rutledge and Raul Nakasone |
2008-09 PERSISTENCE: A Study of Inspired Work | Yvonne Peterson, David Rutledge and Raul Nakasone |
2009-10 SPIRITUALITY: The Eyes of the Unknown | Yvonne Peterson, David Rutledge and Raul Nakasone |
2010-11 CEREMONY: Relating Hospitably to the Land | Yvonne Peterson, David Rutledge and Raul Nakasone |
2011-12 JUSTICE: A Relationship of Reciprocal Respect | Bill Arney, Yvonne Peterson, David Rutledge and Raul Nakasone |
2012-13 PERFORMANCE: Models of Human Understanding | - |
2013-14 DREAMS: Uncommon Dimensions of Thought | - |
Students will develop a critical appreciation of different ways to gather and apply information, knowledge, understanding and wisdom. Students will learn self-respect while drawing upon inherent resources and motivation for developing the whole person, and design important self-reliant, life foundation standards for a meaningful education to share with others.
The major goal of Native American Studies is to provide an open, alternative education opportunity through experiencing a Native American philosophy of education that promotes self-determination, individual research, goal setting, internal motivation and self-reliance.
This area is designed to serve a variety of student groups: Native American students who are interested in enriching their unique cultural heritage and developing strategies for self-determination in a pluralistic society; and other students interested in learning about their own traditional cultures and values including the dynamics of change in a pluralistic society.
Career Pathways in Native American Studies
We tailor the educational experience to each student’s particular needs. There are, therefore, no prescribed “pathways” in Native American Studies, although there is a general pattern that most students follow.
Work in Native American Studies begins with an interview with Specialty Area faculty In this interview, the student and faculty plan an individualized course of study to ensure that the student’s personal needs are met.
Students are asked to answer four important educational questions:
- What do I want to learn?
- How am I going to learn it?
- How am I going to know when I have learned it?
- What difference will it make?
The Longhouse
Education and Cultural Center Evergreen’s new Longhouse represents a living, contemporary, cultural link to the Indigenous Nations of the Pacific Northwest. The purpose and philosophy of the Longhouse Center is based in service and hospitality to the students, the community and the college. The primary function of the facility is to provide classroom space on campus, house Native American Studies, serve as a center for multicultural studies, at host conferences, cultural ceremonies, performances, exhibits and community gatherings.