Course Title: NAS 493 Directed Independent Reading—Native Cultures of North America

Course Description:
This course examines how Western social science has studied and understood the many different cultures encountered in North America by Europeans. We will also examine the history of Indian-European contact with a focus on its effects on both Native and Euro-American cultures through history. We will use linguistics to learn about the wide variety of languages present on the continent, archaeology to examine ancient cultures of North America, and cultural anthropology to examine the different peoples living within North America. We also consider contemporary issues such as exploitation of Native religious ceremonies, reburial of archaeological remains and land rights using multiplicity of voices reflecting Native and non-Native perspectives.

Learning Objectives:

· Familiarize the students with the linguistic and cultural diversity of the Native of North America by studying the history and culture of Indian peoples organized according to the ten culture areas utilized by cultural anthropologists.

· Acquaint students with the complex interrelations of indigenous and European peoples from the time of the European incursion until the present.

· Acquaint the student with the basic tools used by anthropologists to analyze diverse cultures.

Texts:
Spencer, Robert F., et al. The Native Americans. 2nd. ed. New York: Harper & Row, 1977.

Kidwell, Clara Sue and Alan Velie. Native American Studies. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2005.

Momaday, N. Scott. House Made of Dawn. New York: Perennial Classics, 1999.

Film: Cheyenne Autumn. Ford, John. Warner Bros., 1964.

Accountability:
Student will read selected texts and film, write notes, and meet with professor once every week to discuss material. At the end of the semester a final paper (10-15 pgs) covering the course will be due.

Academic Honesty:
Students will comply with standards of academic honesty. The standards can be accessed at http://puffin.creighton.edu/ccas/policies/acadhonesty.html

Assessment:
The student will be assessed by a) meeting with Fr. Bucko every week to discuss reading, b) providing notes for meetings, c) writing a final paper of 20-25 pages, d) and completing a written evaluation of the success of the learning process in this course.

Reading Schedule

Week 1: Figure out schedule and what to read

Week 2: Section I on Perspective and Section II on Language--American Babel

Week 3: Section III

Week 4: Section IV

Week 5: Section V

Week 6: Section VI

Week 7: Section VII

Week 8: Section VIII

Week 9: Fall Break

Week 10: Section IX

Week 11: Read Kidwell & Velie

Week 12: Read Ethnography

Week 13: Read Ethnography

Week 14: Thanksgiving Break (Watch Cheyenne Autumn and read Novel)

Week 15: Read Ethnography

Week 16: Read Ethnography

Week 17: Finals—turn in final paper