Native American Studies

Native American Studies offers an open, alternative educational opportunity. This Specialty Area's programs are organized into 20-year cycles which mirror processes of human development and assist students and faculty alike in developing their whole person.
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:

THE 20 YEAR VISION: Specialty Area's 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 -
2011-12 JUSTICE: A Relationship of Reciprocal Respect -
2012-13 PERFORMANCE: Models of Human Understanding -
2013-14 DREAMS: Uncommon Dimensions of Thought -
Proposed Objectives
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.

Native American Studies, in keeping with student self-determined education, includes programs to complement various cognitive styles. Additionally, collaboration with other Specialty Areas and programs offers many interdisciplinary opportunities. Examples of such collaboration include studies in history, science, environmental studies, health and the expressive arts.

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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 plan to do?
  •  How do I plan to do it?
  • What do I plan to learn?
  • What difference will it make?
    • Students in Native American Studies work to develop individual identity, group loyalty and personal authority. Having developed these strengths and skills, they return to their communities to make a positive impact on the world around them.

    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.
    Credit will be awarded in Native American historical perspectives, cultural studies, perspectives of a pluralistic society, philosophy, human resource development, individual project work and cross-cultural communication.

    Total: 48 credits

    This program is preparatory for careers and future study in education, archaeology, the arts, anthropology, multicultural studies, tribal government and Native American studies.
     

              FIRST TESC NAS WEB PAGE click here http://academic.evergreen.edu/curricular/patience/firstnaspage.htm