CONTENTS: Course Description Course Syllabus Class Discussion Pages General Native American Web Resources Special Topics in Native American Studies Class Pages on Native American Tribes
Pueblo Indian mother and child (Laguna): Mrs. Aragon of Paquate. (c. 1920)

 

Course Description

This course is designed to introduce students to narrative theory through an exploration of contemporary Native American literature. We will pay particular attention to the native cultures of the Pacific Northwest, as well as literature from the Plains, the Southwest, and the Midwest. For each region we will consider contemporary literary production (novels, short stories, autobiographies, or essays) in light of both the oral tradition and the artistic and cultural traditions of the tribes living in that region.

Course Syllabus

• The course syllabus on the web
• Download a .pdf version for easier printing and retrieval

Class Discussion Page

All e.mail sent using the class e.mail address is automatically posted on our discussion page.

General Native American Web Resources

There are a tremendous number of web pages about American Indian Indians - from those maintained by Museums, non-profit organizations, academic research and archival institutions, individual tribes, social and political activists, artists, and many individual Native Americans. This list offers an introduction to many of the most comprehensive sites; but they are starting points for more extensive surfing, and in no way represent a comprehensive list (if only because such a list would be an overwhelming starting point!)

• The Hanksville site is perhaps the most comprehensive online resource for Native American social, cultural, historical, literary and artistic information.
• Indianz.com lists current news and information of interest to Native Americans.
• Indians.org provides many links to web resources, and also offers information on current political and social activism.
• The Indian Circle Web Ring provides a list of federally recognized American Indian tribes, with links to many tribe homepages.
• Focussing mostly on Western North American Indians, this site provides information and a useful series of links.
• Visit this site for an extensive series of links on Native Americans.
• The American Indian Cultural Resource Center's site is another good starting point for more focussed surfing.
• The Yahoo directory of Native American Resources organizes many prominent sites by category.
• The Smithsonian Institution includes The National Museum of the American Indian.
• Native Web provides "resources for indigenous people around the world," with many interesting topical links regarding American Indians.

Special Topics in Native American Studies

Over the course of the semester, we will touch on many topics within our general study of Native American Literature. Here is a preview of a few of these topics:

• Native American Casinos and Gambling
• Cultural Property Rights and Ethics
• Postmodernism and Postmodern Anthropology

Class Pages on Native American Tribes

• The Sioux
• The Pueblo
• The Chippewa
• The Pomo
• The Spokane