History 3010 American Indian History
Fall 2004 K.L. MacKay kmackay@weber.edu,
ext. 6782
An introduction to American Indian history, stressing the integrity and viability of American Indian societies; dynamic, self-directed culture changes; and the clash of cultures that occurred with Native American and European contacts.
The “Indian Land Areas Judicially Established 1978” map was prepared by the United States Geological Survey at a scale of 1:4,000,000, Albers projection from information provided by the Indian Claims Commission. See: http://www.cr.nps.gov/nagpra/DOCUMENTS/ClaimsMAP.htm
Any student requiring accommodations or services dues to a disability must contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) in room 181 of the Student Service Center. SSD can also arrange to provide course materials (including this syllabus) in alternative formats if necessary.
Learning Objectives Topics and Schedule Texts Activities Participation Grades
Week 1|Week 2 |Week 3 |Week 4 | Weeks 5-6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Week 10 Weeks 11-12 Week 13 Week 14 Week 15
no class: October 7
library research : October 12 (meet at reference desk)
no class: October 28; make appointments regarding research
November 13: Shoshone Winter Gathering
November 20: Trapper's Dinner
Oral presentations on books: November 30 - December 7
Participation statement due: December 9
Complete Journal due: December 14
2nd paper due: December 14
Texts:
American Nations, eds. Hoxie, Mancall and
Merrell
First Peoples by Colin Calloway
additional readings as assigned
Activities in support of Learning:
Journal due: September 30
Journal due: November 4
Complete Journal due: December 14
1st Formal paper topic: "... to begin to understand the experience of Native Americans, we have to try to make the imaginative leap into this universe. At the same time, we have to unpick the threads of the Euro-American culture which has trapped them for so long and see how ides about 'the Indian' became translated into--and were used to vindicate--the policies used against them and the reality they inhabit today. This means re-examining many of our most basic beliefs about the world and--ultimately--the very apparatus with which we make sense of it.'
Using Mann, Calloway, Jensen, and other sources, describe your understanding of some of the differences in values, assumptions, economies, social and political structures which distinguish Native America from Euro-America. How are you getting past the stereotypes about Indians that are so ingrained in our consciousness? What guides are you using to the worlds of Native America?Second Paper topic: One scholar of American Indian history has noted: "Native Americans have not died out ' like snow before the sun,' nor have they 'vanished' into the melting pot of 'civilization.'" Using essays from American Nations, the news from Indian Country you've worked with, additional readings and activities, and the film Smoke Signals describe how you have come to an understanding that Indians exist in the twentieth century and that knowing about American Indians helps us know about all of us. In other words--how are you getting to contemporary Indian Country?
1st paper due: October 19
2nd paper due: December 14
Project due: November 13
November 13: Shoshone Open House 1:00Post your research electronically. Send me the entries via email and I will post on a web page.
November 20: "Lunch in a Tipi" 2 seatings: noon and 3:00
From the Smithsonian Anthropology Outreach Program are several bibliographies: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/anthro/outreach/outrch1.html
Students will prepare a 1-page handout presenting a short biography of the author and highlights of the text. (I will make sufficient copies for all students.)
Oral presentations: November 30 - December 7
Participation--in class discussions, in the service project, etc. is highly valued in this class. Students will assess their participation in a short paper. 30 points.
Participation statement due: December 9
Grades will be based on a percentage of the points possible. 90% = A.
