Through films and Internet media this course explores major issues of contemporary indigenous peoples of America. Each week we will view award-winning films made for theaters, television and as documentaries. Modern media written, produced or acted in by native peoples portray to the public the issues Natives consider important, in Native voices, and from Native perspectives.

Readings written by indigenous peoples complement the films and focus our discussion on the issues of ethnic identity, tribal sovereignty, environmental pollution, economic development, health, human rights, spirituality, religious freedom, sacred lands, language retention, music, art and dance.

Anthropological perspectives highlight the use of cross cultural comparisons for understanding myth, ritual, traditional healing, kinship, gender, social stratification, racism, commodification of ethnicity, culture change, religious revitalization, artistic innovation, modernization, globalization, and sustainable communities.

Course Syllabus:
Requirements, Schedule, Readings