AIS 180: Intro to American Indian Studies

Spring 2008 American Indian Studies Courses

AIS 180: Intro to American Indian Studies

Instructor: Dr. Myla Vicenti Carpio

Course #: 10602

Tuesday, Thursday 9:15-10:30

PSYB 139

This course examines and introduces the student to American Indian Studies as a discipline that focuses on understanding and upholding Indigenousness and Sovereignty (Self-Determination). The major purpose of the course is to promote awareness of the colonization/decolonization processes impacting Indigenous nations and to understand American Indian Studies as a fundamental factor in the strategic solution of perennial problems in Indian Country. Therefore, this course examines contemporary challenges facing Indigenous nations and people, while seeking clarification and critical analysis. Also, this course encourages students to think critically and to understand what it means to live in a culturally diverse society and speculate upon the ways that a just society might emerge and develop in the twentieth century through a broader definition of cultural difference.

AIS 194: Indigenous Rhetoric: Conversation and Dialogue on Behalf of Indigenous Land, Culture, and Community

Instructor: Simon J. Ortiz

Course #: 10604

Tuesday 1:00-3:45

AIS 194 Indigenous Rhetoric: Conversation and Dialogue on Behalf of Indigenous Land, Culture, and Community will focus upon the local, regional, national, and international Indigenous community. Although the local Indigenous (Native American) community will be considered as the most immediately available to us as reference, the local community will also be seen asan avenueto the larger Indigenous community. By conversation and dialogue about topical matters, concerns, and issues that bear upon social, political, cultural, economic interests, students will avail themselves by acquainting themselves with the local Indigenous communities in the Phoenix valley, including writing projects exploring local matters, concerns, and issues. Required reading will be part of the course as reference and comparative resource, including the following texts: Mankiller, a Chief and Her People, Wilma Mankiller and Michael Wallis; Red Earth: A Vietnam Warrior's Journey, Phlip H. Red Eagle; Going Native: Indians in the American Cultural Imagination, Shari M. Huhndorf; Bloodlines: Odyssey of a Native Daughter, Janet Campbell Hale; A Certain Lack of Coherene: Writings on Art and Cultural Politics, Jimmie Durham; Viet Cong at Wounded Knee: The Trail of a Blackfeet Activist, Woody Kipp. Four 6-8 page papers will be written by students and a 5-10 minute oral report will be presented by students; both papers and the oral report will be graded. Class attendance and participation will be counted as part of the students' grades.

AIS 280: American Indian Sovereignty and the Courts

Instructor: Dr. James Riding In

Course #: 10605

Monday, Wednesday 10:40-11:55

USE 103

This course has four primary objectives. First, it will provide you with an understanding of the concept of sovereignty and its functions within traditional Indian societies. Second, it will enable you to comprehend how and why the Supreme Court has rendered decisions that have either supported or diminished Indian sovereignty and rights in such matters as land ownership, criminal and civil jurisdiction, treaty rights, hunting and fishing rights, and religious freedom. Third, it will offer you a historical and cultural context in which to understand the ways in which the Court has used racial stereotypes, notions of superiority, and colonial-era discourses and precedent to subjugate Indian nations under U.S. domination and to take away or erode Indian rights. This objective calls for you to have the intellectual tools to effectively comprehend and deconstruct court cases. Fourth, it will establish a framework so you can think critically about solutions that may resolve the problems Indians face when issues involving them reach the federal court system.

AIS 285: Federal Indian Policy

Instructor: Michelle Hale

Course #: 31313

Monday, Wednesday 9:15-10:30

AG 246

This class will examine the historical, legal and political relationship between Indian tribes in North America and the United States government from the era of initial contact with non-indigenous peoples to the present with special emphasis on the process of policymaking and those influencing legislation. The class will discuss key shifts in policy that have impacted tribal sovereignty and look at the historical context in which such changes occurred.

AIS 380: Contemporary Issues of American Indian Nations

Instructor: Carol Lujan

Course #: 32327

Tuesday, Thursday 1:40-2:55

LL 240

This course is designed to provide students with an overview of the current status of American Indian nations. The course begins with a brief overview of the legal statues that recognizes the sovereignty of American Indian governments and quickly moves into current issues facing American Indian nations including gaming, politics, land and water rights, justice and criminal jurisdiction, health and education concerns, art, cultural maintenance and the American Indian governments relationship with the federal, state and local governments.

AIS 494: Tribal Governance

Instructor: Michelle Hale

Course #: 34386

Monday, Wednesday 12:15-1:30

ED 218

This class will trace the historical growth and evolution of tribal governments from the treaty era to the present. Included will be discussions around tribal notions of self-governance, leadership and community building. Students will gain an understanding of the key legislative changes that have occurred in the last century that have had significant implications for the ways that tribes govern themselves, makes decisions and work with other governmental entities. A close examination of current issues and an opportunity for students to engage with individuals who work in various capacities with tribal governments will provide keen insight to topics discussed.

AIS 494: Crime in Indian Country

Instructor: Carol Lujan

Course #: 10610

Tuesday, Thursday 10:40-11:55

AG 246

This course is designed to provide the students with a critical perspective in the examination of crime etiology as it occurs within Indian Country. This course will examine the numerous variables that have altered traditional forms of law and will discuss the impacts of federal-tribal relations, the imposition of laws/ policies, jurisdictional issues, notions of racism, and traditional spirituality within the penal system.

AIS 494: Indigenous Spirituality in Postmodern America

Instructor: Dr. David Martinez

Course #: 32353

Monday, Wednesday 1:40-2:55

AG 181

The discourse on religion has long been determined by those following the major text-based religions, viz., Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism, with very little input from the still existing and practiced indigenous religions, which are fundamentally oral, tribal, and local. Nonetheless, the revitalization of indigenous sacred ways across America has been underway for the past generation. In the process, native communities and intellectuals have had to compel us to rethink the very notion of religion itself. What are these cultural and religious trends? And who are the individuals leading the transformation of religion, tribe, and self within Indian Country? This course attempts to answer these questions.

AIS 494: Readings in Decolonization

Instructor: Dr. Myla Vicenti Carpio

Course #: 10609

Tuesday, Thursday 12:15-1:30

SCOB 302

This course grounds students in the theory and concepts of colonization, decolonization and indigenous peoples in America, with brief comparisons with global indigenous peoples and experiences. Through theoretical understandings coupled with practical applications, we will examine and formulate ways in which decolonization can impact and be integrated into and developed within indigenous lives and communities.

AIS 494: Native Images: Native Representations in Art, Museums and (Popular) Culture

Instructor: Traci Morris

Course #: 32371

Tuesday 5:40-8:30

PSA 109

The classwill examine representations of Native Images in various manifestations of popular culture via literature, museums, and art.This "close reading"will range from outside representations of the 'White Man's Indian' (Berkhofer)to self representations of'postindian warriors' (Vizenor). Using various theoretical approaches including post-colonial studies, this class will examine how the dominant culture has represented Indians and how Natives represent themselves in their culture and popular culture in varioustime periods. The student can expect readings from Native authors, American Indian Studies academics, Native artists,post-colonial theorists, and catalogues from art exhibitions at major museums such as the National Museum of the American Indian and the Heard Museum of the American Indian. The class will be discussion oriented; the student will be expected to contribute significantly to classroom discussions. The work load will include a mid-term book review and a final paper of significant length.