Upcoming Courses

Mon/Wed/Fri @ 11:00 AM – 11:50 AM with Professor Benedict Colombi

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.

Tue/Thu @ 9:30 – 10:45 with Professor Andrew Curley

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

Tue/Thu @ 12:30 – 1:45 PM with Professor Tristan Reader

You are what you eat. Food is about culture, health and wellness, economics, social relations, ways of knowing the world, and more. This is particularly true for the world’s 370 million Indigenous people. This course explores the multilayered importance of food to the Native peoples of North America in the past, the present, and the future.

Wed @ 5:30 – 8:00 PM with Professor Benedict Colombi

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.

Tue/Thu @ 2:00 – 3:15 with Professor Bojan Louis

Studies of Native American literature.

Mon/Wed/Fri @ 10:00 - 10:50 with Professor Matthew Sakiestewa Gilbert

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.

Tue/Thu @ 11:00 – 12:15 PM with Professor Mary Jo Tippeconnix Fox

A focus on Native American female leadership over time and its impact upon tribal sovereignty, self-determination, Nation Building, and society in general (Native and Non-Native). An examination and comparison of Native female philosophies and approaches to other forms of gender and Western leadership with an emphasis on culture, traditions, and worldview. Centering the challenges and issues of leadership by analyzing the lives of Native women leaders, past, present and going forward.