AMER214

This course examines Native American lives, cultures, and communities from the era just before European contact to the present day. Through a series of case studies, we will explore how Native peoples adapted to, resisted, and shaped the changes brought by European and Anglo—American colonization of North America; survived US. policies of forced removal and acculturation; and redefined tribal nationhood and Indian identity in the twentieth century. We gain familiarity with the stories of specific Native individuals and communities, we will also ask: How have Native people been represented (or misrepresented) in American popular culture and academic scholarship? ls it possible for non—Native scholars to represent Native communities in ways that are ethical and accurate? And finally, what can past histories of Native America
teach us about Native life, identity, and challenges in the present day? Through this course you will gain not only an introduction to the richness and diversity of Native American histories and cultures, but also a deeper understanding of the American past and present.