Ethnic Studies and the Historical Experiences of Native Americans

This ethnic studies course covers Native American history from an indigenous perspective, from pre-Columbian contact to the present. Students will examine Native American societies with attention to the impact of contact upon indigenous cultures and societies in the United States, analyzing settler colonialism and structural discrimination, including an examination of Native responses to contact and colonization. Students will analyze Native American continuity and change in cultures as a result of historical and contemporary social conditions and the continued relationship with the federal government. Emphasis is placed upon the struggles for legal, political, cultural, and religious sovereignty.