Indigenous Peoples: Identities and Social Transformations

Spring 2001

During spring quarter, we will move from a broad study of how colonialism has impacted indigenous peoples and their identities (fall quarter), and from a more narrow focus on Native American identity and social transformations (winter quarter). In the spring, we will use the quarter to focus on contemporary issues in Native American Studies and on placing the knowledge we have gained over the year in an applied, participatory context. We will build on our study of colonialism, history, and social transformations to explore the program's central question of how these dynamics affect Native American identity. Our discussions will include broader issues of indigenous identity, but we will largely focus on Native American communities in North America. We will largely begin with a focus on the period of "Red Power" and the increased role that tribes have taken in their efforts to become self-governing. We will continually show how federal and state policies have impacted Native Americans. Through readings and guest speakers, the program will look at individual native voices and their experiences. We will have a required field trip to the Makah reservation, tentatively scheduled for April 23-24.

Spring quarter gives the students in this program an opportunity to give back something to the communities. The program meets on Monday from 9 - 12 in an all program meeting and from 1- 3 in seminars. In addition to the Monday academic program students will be involved in 8 credits of community service or applied research. Students will be asked to keep current through reading an Indian newspaper that includes national issues and analyze them based on the historical context of the program. Students involved in the Gateway Program will continue doing this as community service for 4 of the eight credits of community service.

Readings
Note: The books are listed in alphabetical order, not in the order they will be read in class.

Champagne, Duane. Contemporary Native American Cultural Issues. London: AltaMira Press, a division of Sage Publications, July 2000. ISBN: 0-7619-9059-3

Johnson, Troy R., ed. Contemporary Native American Political Issues. London: AltaMira Press, a division of Sage Publications, 1999. ISBN: 0-7619-9061-5

Monture, Joel. Turtle Belly. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1998. ISBN: 0-8061-3010-5

Sullivan, Robert, A Whale Hunt: 2 Years on the Olympic Peninsula with the Makah and Their Canoe. New York: Scribner, 2000. ISBN: 0-684-86433-9. Note: this book is not available in the college bookstore. It appears to be available online and through other sources. However, it may be replaced by another book.

Handouts (in pdf):