ANTH 101 - Native Americans

3 Credits: (3 lecture)

Course Description
This course introduces students to various Native American cultures throughout the Americas from pre-historic time to the present. Emphasis will be placed on cultural adaptations, reservation life, cross-cultural comparisons and cultural change. This course meets the General Education competency of Values, Ethics, and Diverse Perspectives (VE).

Text
Sutton, Mark Q. An Introduction to Native North America. 6th ed. Routledge, 2021 .

Objectives
The student will be able to: 

A. Identify key cultural characteristics that are unique to specific Native American tribes. 

B. Distinguish between the different historical events that have impacted various Native American cultures. 

C. Analyze various ethical and sociological theories that explain the perspectives of Native American cultures. (VE) 

D. Examine the complexity of the diverse Native American experience and the various global forces that shape it. (VE) 

Content
A. Overview: Native Americans of yesterday and today 

B. Native Americans of the woodlands 

C. Native Americans of the southern region 

D. Native Americans of the southwest region 

E. Native Americans of the plains and prairie region 

F. Native Americans of the northwest coast 

G. The Mayan and Aztec civilization - Mexico 

Student Evaluation
A-D. Class discussions, debates, written assignments, and objective and essay examinations. Bibliography
Axtell, James. Natives and Newcomers: The Cultural Origins of North America. Oxford UP, 2001. 

Carmack, Robert M. The Legacy of Mesoamerica. 2nd ed. Pearson, 2007.  

Champagne, Duane. Contemporary Native American Cultural Issues. Altamira, 2009.  

Edmunds, R. David. The People: A History of Native America. Houghton, 2007.  

Lobo, Susan. Native American Voices: A Reader. 3rd ed. Pearson, 2010.  

Purdy, John. Nothing but the Truth. Pearson, 2001.  

Thornton, Russell. Studying Native America: Problems and Prospects. U Wisconsin P, 2008.  

Other References (websites, videos, CDs, DVDs) 

How the West Was Lost. Prod. Discovery Networks and KUSA-TV. Discovery/Time Life, 1993.  

I Will Fight No More Forever. Dir. Richard T. Heffron. Perf. James Whitmore, Ned Romero, Sam Elliott, Nick Ramos, and Emilio Delgado. Good Times Home Video, 1993.  

The Great Indian Wars 1540-1890. Prod. Brentwood Home Video. BCI Eclipse, 2005.  

The Trial of Standing Bear. Prod. Station KUON-TV/University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the Nebraska ETV Network. PBS, 2006.  

Where the Spirit Lives. Dir. Bruce Pittman. Perf. Michelle St. John. Off Hollywood, 1989.