Undergraduate Courses

This course explores a wide variety of current issues relevant to American Indian peoples and Nations in the U.S. Students will explore the historical roots of these issues, their contemporary manifestations, and current and potential efforts to address them. Along the way, this course introduces students to various approaches and theories involved in American Indian Studies, and asks students to apply them to current topics. AIS 220 is required for AIS majors and minors but open to all students; it fulfills the General Education requirement, and serves as basis for upper division AIS coursework.

Indigenous Knowledges & Worldviews examines Indigenous knowledge systems and worldviews centered around place, and its relationship to identity, knowledge, values, pedagogies, history, kinship, livelihood, self-determination, sovereignty, language, stories, and forms of expression.

The course provides a comprehensive overview of the essential components of federal Indian laws and policies of the United States, which correspond to the historical progression of American Indians during various periods of change, significantly influencing both tribal governance and the lives of individual Indians. Key topics encompass the origins and extent of federal authority concerning Indian affairs, the powers of tribal governments, jurisdictional matters pertaining to Indian Country, and contemporary issues facing these communities.

In Indigenous Intellectual Traditions, students will embark on an in-depth exploration of the work of one Indigenous Intellectual. Students will study several primary source works authored by the Indigenous Intellectual and analyze them within the cultural and sociopolitical frameworks in which they were written. The topic of the course will rotate.

An interdisciplinary survey of Native peoples in North and Central America, from their origins to present. This course is structured around the themes of sovereignty, cultural diversity, native epistemologies, the Columbian exchange, and cultural transformation and survival. These themes integrate our examination of several native Nations, ranging from the Aztec of Central Mexico to the Inuit of the Canadian Arctic. The course focuses on homelands and origins, intercultural exchange, demography, ecological transformation, the impacts of introduced epidemic diseases, processes of colonialism, social organization and culture, education, and contemporary issues.

This course introduces student to various approaches and theories involved in American Indian studies. Intended for those minoring in American Indian studies, courses serve as basis for further upper division course work. Provides overview of tribes in U.S. their languages, histories, cultures. Large component focuses on colonialism and U.S. policy toward Native Americans and its affect within Native communities.

This course explores a wide variety of current issues relevant to American Indian peoples and Nations in the U.S. Students will explore the historical roots of these issues, their contemporary manifestations, and current and potential efforts to address them. Along the way, this course introduces students to various approaches and theories involved in American Indian Studies, and asks students to apply them to current topics. AIS 220 is required for AIS majors and minors but open to all students; it fulfills the General Education requirement, and serves as basis for upper division AIS coursework.

We will review scientific information on creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship both among mainstream individuals and groups; and among indigenous (American Indian; Canadian First Nations and Inuit; Maori) individuals and in indigenous communities. Techniques for promoting both personal creativity, and creativity in groups, teams, organizations, and communities will be considered. You will also be exposed to examples of creativity from a variety of cultures, eras, and fields.

Indigenous Knowledges & Worldviews examines Indigenous knowledge systems and worldviews centered around place, and its relationship to identity, knowledge, values, pedagogies, history, kinship, livelihood, self-determination, sovereignty, language, stories, and forms of expression.

An analysis of historical and current issues affecting American Indians and Alaska Natives. Topics may vary and will focus on the exchange of scholarly information and/or secondary research, usually in a small group setting. Topic areas will be discussed within the framework of federal treaties with tribal nations, the federal trust relationship, sovereignty and self-determination, federal Indian policies, jurisdiction and federal tribal recognition, and Indian identity.

The course provides a comprehensive overview of the essential components of federal Indian laws and policies of the United States, which correspond to the historical progression of American Indians during various periods of change, significantly influencing both tribal governance and the lives of individual Indians. Key topics encompass the origins and extent of federal authority concerning Indian affairs, the powers of tribal governments, jurisdictional matters pertaining to Indian Country, and contemporary issues facing these communities.

A study of events in Diné history in relation to the political, societal and economic context of American history. A review of Diné philosophical and world views, examination of the history and federal Indian policy as applied to the Diné. Interactive in nature.

Survey of images of American Indians in cinema, particularly commercial films. Examines differences between the "western" and the "Indian" film and how imagery affects attitudes and policy-making.

The history of Native American education reveals a struggle for power: Native communities fighting to retain or regain control over the education of their children. This course presents a survey of education, from the perspectives of Native educational theories and practices 'education BY Native peoples' and from the perspective of imposed systems of schooling, education developed FOR Native peoples. We begin in the early colonial era and survey changes and continuities over time, concluding with current educational research and educational issues in Native America. Along the way, we consider: · Community-based systems of Indigenous education; · Models of so-called 'appropriate education' developed by colonial nations (including the U.S.) for Indian people and children, as well as educational models developed for black Americans and immigrant populations. For each educational system and model we examine, we will discuss (1) the philosophical background and development of theories and policies (2) educational practices, how theories/policies are implemented, and (3) American Indian experiences within, and responses to, varied educational settings.

An analysis of historical and current issues affecting American Indians and Alaska Natives. Topics may vary and will focus on the exchange of scholarly information and/or secondary research, usually in a small group setting. Topic areas will be discussed within the framework of federal treaties with tribal nations, the federal trust relationship, sovereignty and self-determination, and Indian identity.

Globalization is a term often heard and read in academic circles and in national news, but less often understood by the average person. However, because it is the world political, economic, and social system currently in place as the next evolution of capitalism, everyone should have a basic notion of the definition, and what effects it has and will continue to have on the lives of everyone. Indigenous People of the world are the human population most adversely affected by globalization and the group that has the most experience in sometimes resisting, sometimes adapting, and sometimes creating a syncretism of responses to changing world situations. This course first gives an introduction to the history, politics, and economics of globalization, then moves on to discuss both the benefits and challenges of globalization through the perspectives of global Indigenous peoples.

This class explores a series of topics and themes focused on Native Peoples and urban settings, including migration, urbanization and the creation of cities and urban communities. The class will emphasis: literature; U.S. policy; and theoretical and practical implications.

Students will examine diverse representations of Indigenous people in children’s literature and film in a variety of genres, such as picture books, chapter books, young adult literature, biographies, non-fiction, poetry, bildungsroman, graphic novels, animated works, feature films, and stage plays. Students will have opportunities to practice and apply knowledge learned during the semester through analytical papers, creative assignments, and projects designed to build professional skills in the field of literary education.

Indigenous and aboriginal peoples in the Americas developed distinctive economic systems prior to contact with Europe. As the world economic system developed, indigenous peoples attempted to preserve their ways of life as best they could, with some success. This course examines the ontological, epistemological and moral bases of indigenous economic theory with application to contemporary problems.

An introduction to the growing literature on traditional ecological knowledge and its relationships to the ecological and social sciences.

This course will provide students with a comprehensive overview of the development of modern tribal governments, their powers, and the problems they face. Course requires a historical examination of North American indigenous societies from Pre-colonial times to the present. Indigenous groups prior to 1492 will be examined. Emphasis on traditional social and political institutions and practices. Historical development of Indian-Anglo relations, European contact to present, U.S. Indian policy, tribal sovereign powers, political economic and cultural implications toward tribal societies.

This course explores critical nation-building issues confronting Indigenous peoples in North America, with a primary focus on Native peoples in the United States. The course will examine multi-dimensional settings that confront Native societies and their social, cultural, political, educational, and economic leaders. The issues to be analyzed include: economic development, politics, culture and identity; and leadership and institution-building. Issues, concepts, and theories examined in the course will provide a basis for examining current Indigenous institutions of self-government; assessing policies of federal, First Nation/tribal, and state/provincial governments; analyzing how to enhance the foundational capacities for effective governance and for strategic attacks on education, economic, and community development problems of Native nations; and augmenting leadership skills, knowledge, and abilities for nation-building. Course participants will link concepts of politics, economics, and culture, with nation-building and leadership through readings, discussions, case studies, short assignments, mid-term exam, and a final exam.

This course is a survey of basic issues and concepts in natural resource management and the environment in Native communities using integrated case studies that survey all the major varieties of environmental issues in Indian Country in the 21st century. A central theme will be developing tribally-specific solutions to rebuilding the resiliency of degraded ecosystems. We will consider particular case studies such as: tribal sovereignty, land tenure, reserved rights and Native claims; Native knowledge systems and Western science; co-management and restoration; water; fish and wildlife; agriculture and rangeland management; energy, mining and nuclear waste; and global climate change.

In this class we will learn how research is conducted -- from the generation of a research idea for your own research desires and the needs of your employer to the presentation of research results -- and you will gain practical experience that can be presented on your resume. The employer we will pick will be a Native Nation and its social research needs. For individual needs it will be the construction of a draft research project that you can use to apply for graduate school or a job. Knowing how to conceptualize a research project is very important. Knowing how to undertake the research, evaluate the results and convey them to research communities and employers is very important as well.

Interdisciplinary exploration of new information available on American Indian women, especially materials written by Indian women and investigation of the status, experience, and contributions of American Indian women from pre-contact to contemporary times.

In Mixed Media Stories, we will study novels and short stories that have been transformed into feature films. The selected stories and films are diverse in terms of genre, place of origin, and intended audience. Stories include works by Indigenous writers from the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as several mainstream classic stories about Native people and issues. For each text and film pairing, we will begin by reading the text, then watch the film version for an opportunity to examine how the stories are changed/adapted to fit the audience and medium. We will explore changes in point of view, presentation of Native themes and issues, character development, stereotypes, etc.--and the implications of these changes. Through class discussions, assignments, and papers, students will have opportunities to develop their analytical, writing, and professional skills which may be applied to other areas of literary, film, and American Indian studies.

An introduction to tribal college and universities (TCUs) which includes a discussion of their history, mission, governance, organization, finances, characteristics, support services, roles, responsibilities, evaluation, students, personnel (faculty/staff), challenges and future issues. As a minority serving institution (MSI), the TCUs experience is analyzed and compared to other such institutions as well as mainstream. TCUs are a success story in American Indian education; a grassroots effort by Native communities wanting quality higher education that reflects tribal traditions, values and culture. TCUs are an example of tribal communities practicing self-determination, nation building and sovereignty.

This course will examine the social, cultural, and economic considerations of Native American warfare, including discourse on the nature of human aggression, methods and motives for war. Biological evidence will be discussed.

This course will examine the anthropology and history of gaming in American Indian tribes and cultures. It will examine the legal framework of Indian gaming, including the history of federal Indian law as it relates to gaming, tribal jurisdiction over Indian land, compacting, legal struggles between the tribes and the states, and the history and development of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The class will also examine the sociological impact of gaming on tribal communities and the effect of gaming revenues on neighboring communities. The student will develop skills in an analytical approach to discussion and writing, through lectures and group analysis of pertinent court cases and legislation, pertinent films and guest speakers, possible field trips, and readings as they pertain to the subject for the week.

Examines the positive (curing, harmony with the natural world, etc.) aspects of Indian religions. Indian medicine men may participate in the course at various junctures.

The exchange of scholarly information on important disciplinary topics, usually in a small group seminar setting with occasional lectures. The course content, as taught in any one semester, depends on student need and interest, and on the research/teaching interests of the participating faculty member. The scope of work shall consist of research by course registrants, with the exchange of results through discussion, reports, reviews, and/or papers.

In Indigenous Intellectual Traditions, students will embark on an in-depth exploration of the work of one Indigenous Intellectual. Students will study several primary source works authored by the Indigenous Intellectual and analyze them within the cultural and sociopolitical frameworks in which they were written. The topic of the course will rotate.

An honors thesis is required of all the students graduating with honors. Students ordinarily sign up for this course as a two-semester sequence. The first semester the student performs research under the supervision of a faculty member; the second semester the student writes an honors thesis.

Survey of images of American Indians in cinema, particularly commercial films. Examines differences between the "western" and the "Indian" film and how imagery affects attitudes and policy-making.

Students will examine diverse representations of Indigenous people in children’s literature and film in a variety of genres, such as picture books, chapter books, young adult literature, biographies, non-fiction, poetry, bildungsroman, graphic novels, animated works, feature films, and stage plays. Students will have opportunities to practice and apply knowledge learned during the semester through analytical papers, creative assignments, and projects designed to build professional skills in the field of literary education.

This course explores a wide variety of current issues relevant to American Indian peoples and Nations in the U.S. Students will explore the historical roots of these issues, their contemporary manifestations, and current and potential efforts to address them. Along the way, this course introduces students to various approaches and theories involved in American Indian Studies, and asks students to apply them to current topics. AIS 220 is required for AIS majors and minors but open to all students; it fulfills the General Education requirement, and serves as basis for upper division AIS coursework.

This class explores a series of topics and themes focused on Native Peoples and urban settings, including migration, urbanization and the creation of cities and urban communities. The class will emphasis: literature; U.S. policy; and theoretical and practical implications.

An introduction to the growing literature on traditional ecological knowledge and its relationships to the ecological and social sciences.

This course is a survey of basic issues and concepts in natural resource management and the environment in Native communities using integrated case studies that survey all the major varieties of environmental issues in Indian Country in the 21st century. A central theme will be developing tribally-specific solutions to rebuilding the resiliency of degraded ecosystems. We will consider particular case studies such as: tribal sovereignty, land tenure, reserved rights and Native claims; Native knowledge systems and Western science; co-management and restoration; water; fish and wildlife; agriculture and rangeland management; energy, mining and nuclear waste; and global climate change.

In Mixed Media Stories, we will study novels and short stories that have been transformed into feature films. The selected stories and films are diverse in terms of genre, place of origin, and intended audience. Stories include works by Indigenous writers from the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as several mainstream classic stories about Native people and issues. For each text and film pairing, we will begin by reading the text, then watch the film version for an opportunity to examine how the stories are changed/adapted to fit the audience and medium. We will explore changes in point of view, presentation of Native themes and issues, character development, stereotypes, etc.--and the implications of these changes. Through class discussions, assignments, and papers, students will have opportunities to develop their analytical, writing, and professional skills which may be applied to other areas of literary, film, and American Indian studies.

People have lived in the Greater Southwest for at least 12,000 years. Because written records on the Southwest began in A.D.1540 with European colonization, an important way of understanding American Indian occupation is through archaeology. Even following initial colonial period occupation of the Southwest, records were sparse and did not record the same information that archaeological research can provide. Tin addition, archaeology uses techniques from the social and natural sciences to describe past environments. This course provides an archaeological overview of American Indian societies in the Southwest from the earliest occupation to the colonial period, including where, when, and how they lived.

Explores societies and cultures of Native peoples of the US Southwest and Northern Mexico from European contact to present. Examines impact of Spain, Mexico, and the United States on these Native peoples. Discusses major contemporary issues facing Native peoples in the area.

Culture, history and economic, social, and religious institutions of the living people of the Southwest.

The course encompasses the greater Southwest, including northern Mexico from pre-Columbian times to the present. Evidence from archaeology, ethnology, linguistics, and biological anthropology is integrated. Emphasis is placed on the interaction of Indian, Hispanic, and Euroamerican peoples and their adaptation to and exploitation of the natural environment through time.

Historical and cultural background, and contemporary economic, political and social organization of indigenous and non-indigenous groups in rural Mexico. Primarily concerned with the people of the countryside, and the Mexican revolution.

Explores the role of plants in non-industrialized societies from ancient to modern times. Includes ethnobotanical techniques, cultural classifications, wild resources, traditional farming.

This course examines research ethics and review processes through an Indigenous lens. Utilizing research and ethics frameworks from a diverse array of disciplines and geographies, this course explores the history of research and ethics by, with, and for Indigenous Peoples, communities, and nations, and investigates the current practices and future of research ethics and review processes from Indigenous perspectives.

Forms of verbal folklore.

Works by and/or about American Indian writers.

A study of oral tradition, with an emphasis on American Indian myth, legend, and lore.

This course looks at environment and human relationships on the North American continent with an emphasis on Native nations and indigenous perspectives. Major topics include sacred spaces, colonialism, politics and law, race and power, cultural landscapes, governance and self-determination.

A one credit hour field-based augmentation to a regular 3 credit hour non-field course offered in the school. Will involve travel to field sites and social and/or environmental data collection and analysis. Only to be used in conjunction with one of the school's regular courses.

This course explores the development, strategies, and political impact of indigenous peoples' movements in the Latin American region. It focuses on structural factors to explain how and why indigenous communities organize politically, and the ways in which indigenous movements have shaped democratization and development from the mid-20th century until the present. The course will include cases from across the Latin American region with particular emphasis on those regions with the highest concentration of indigenous populations in Mesoamerica (Mexico and Guatemala) and the Andes (Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador). Specific topics include the construction and politicization of ethnic identity; colonization and the historical roots of racism and inequality; nationalism and mestizaje; democratization and its impact on indigenous movements; indigenous women's movements; indigenous resistance to neoliberalism and globalization; indigenous political parties; patterns of electoral participation; and the multinational state.

Explores the place and status of Tribal Governments in our federal system, focusing in particular on federal policy decisions underlying various laws and statutes. The course examines ways to interpret and apply the relevant laws and explores the impact that would be result from changing the policy behind those laws.

Continuation of vocabulary development, oral skills enhancement and mastery of Diné Bizaad (Navajo language) verb paradigms. Native speakers undertake original research and writing in Diné Bizaad.

Continuation of vocabulary development, oral skills enhancement and mastery of Diné Bizaad (Navajo language) verb paradigms. Native speakers undertake original research and writing in Diné Bizaad.

This course surveys American Indian languages and the communities that speak them, focusing on a representative sample for closer study. The role of language in maintaining cultural identity is examined, and prospects for the future of American Indian languages are assessed.

Speaking, reading, writing, and oral comprehension in the Tohono O'Odham (Papago) language.

Introduction to descriptive linguistics for Native Americans; practical linguistic and social issues in Native American languages; phonetics and phonology; orthography; dialects and language change; classroom applications.

Speaking, reading, writing, and oral comprehension in the Tohono O'odham (Papago) language.

Traditional Indian Medicine, or TIM, is a concept that refers to Indigenous knowledges expressed through the varied healing systems in Indigenous communities. This course will pay particular attention to American Indian nations and healing knowledges that are intersecting and intertwined relationships with the natural world, the Indigenous body and the sacred. We will examine both how Indigenous healing systems have persisted as well as responded to social conditions, such as genocide, colonization and historical, as well as contemporary, forms of oppression. Topics include intergenerational trauma as well as how resilience is expressed in practices of wellbeing, healing and self-determination. We will also explore TIM as containing systems of healing that may/may not operate in conjunction with allopathic medicine. This course takes a transdisciplinary approach, incorporating readings from American Indian/Indigenous studies and health to explore a complex portfolio of American Indian/Indigenous wellbeing.

This interdisciplinary course is a survey of various popular and Indigenous medicinal systems that fall under the rubric known as Mexican Traditional Medicine (MTM). Mexican scholar Carlos Viesca Treviño defines MTM as medicinal knowledge(s) that emanate from Mesoamerican world views and that have adapted to historical and social conditions in the Americas. This course will explore various expressions of MTM, with a special emphasis on Indigenous medicinal approaches to healing that exemplify both continuities and adaptations. We will compare across cultures some shared values in various Indigenous systems as well as how they are uniquely expressed in contemporary settings. We will also draw from the local knowledge holders of Indigenous populations from this region to compare various approaches in traditional medicine. This course will introduce students to the relationship between place, healing and cosmology in Indigenous-based cultures that maintain curing traditions and practices. We will explore the theories and philosophies that are used in MTM as well as applied knowledge and practices that are useful for self care and community wellness.

This course offers a broad introduction to the diversity and complexity of American Indian religious traditions historically and in the contemporary. Students will explore general themes in the study of American Indian religions and spirituality along with analyzing specific examples. Of particular importance are the history and effects of colonialism and missionization on Native people, continuing struggles for religious freedom and cultural survival, and historical and contemporary religious responses to social, cultural, political, and geographical changes.

This course critically explores the categories of "religion," "spirituality," and "the sacred" as they relate to American Indian communities, traditions, lifeways, histories, narratives, ceremony, and land. Focusing on both the plurality of indigenous lifeways and shared characteristics, some major topics that will be examined include the role of religion both in the colonization of Native people as well as in resistance to colonization, the importance of land/place/ecosystem and conceptions of sacred space, and issues of religious freedom and the fight for traditional land. Throughout we will analyze the efficacy of the terms "religion" and "spirituality" as well as engage with concerns regarding the academic study of Native American religions more broadly.