HIST 441-01, Interpretive Issues in Native American History

Abstract

The history of Native North Americans has been distorted by myth, popular stereotype, and marginalization, challenging us to unlock the realities of their past. Debates within Indian country, between Native and non-Native scholars, and among policy-makers and filmmakers reveal competing interpretations of American Indian history that call for further exploration. In this course, we will address popular assumptions about Indian spirituality, ecology, and warfare. We will investigate the tangled history of slavery, race, and identity politics among southeastern tribes. We will venture into the world of photography to examine colonialist narratives and Indian uses of photography. Finally, we will consider mid and late twentieth-century issues of Native sovereignty, citizenship, and activism.