Native American studies

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Native American Studies is an academic discipline which studies the experience of people of Native American ancestry in America. Closely related to other Ethnic studies disciplines such as African American studies, Asian American Studies, and Latino/a Studies, Native American Studies critically examines the history, culture, politics, issues, and experiences of Native Americans. Drawing from numerous disciplines such as sociology, history, literature, political science, and gender studies, Native American Studies scholars consider a variety of perspectives and employ diverse analytical tools in their work.

More progressive practitioners push for the decolonization of indigenous peoples, political autonomy, and the establishment of a discipline dedicated to alleviating contemporary problems facing indigenous peoples. Every paper published or lecture given would ideally contribute to this cause.

Contents 1 History 2 Notable Scholars 3 Major Programs/Departments 4 External links

[edit] History

The time leading up to the 1960s since first contact with Europeans was marked with the incessant attempts on behalf of Europeans and the U.S. to force American Indians to assimilate into the mainstream culture. Beginning with missionaries and leading up to federally controlled schools the aim was to educate American Indians so that they could go back into their communities and facilitate the assimilation process. As sited by David Beck, in his article "American Indian Higher Education before 1974: From Colonization to Self-Determination," the schools were used as a tool for assimilation. Their main focus was not intellectual but to give training for industrial jobs or domestic jobs. The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s-1960s created a rise in contesting the status quo and the mainstream methods of teaching and what it was teaching. Therefore, American Indian students, coupled with sympathetic professors, assisted in creating new programs with new aims. Rather than being focused on Indians going back to their communities to educate along the lines of assimilation there was a move to educate for empowerment. Programs that did community outreach and focused on student retention in campuses have risen out of that movement. Furthermore, the programs in schools created a new interpretation for American Indian history, sociology, and politics.

[edit] Notable Scholars

• William Brandon
• Elizabeth Cook-Lynn
• Vine Deloria, Jr.
• Philip Deloria
• Jack Forbes
• Arnold Krupat
• Robert Allen Warrior
• Devon A. Mihesuah
• Gerald Vizenor
• Craig Womack
• William Willard (scholar)
• Roger Buffalohead

[edit] Major Programs/Departments

• Colgate University N.A. Studies Colgate University
• Cornell University N.A. Studies Cornell University
• Dartmouth College N.A. Studies Dartmouth College
• Humboldt State University N.A. Studies Humboldt State University
• University of Arizona N.A. Studies University of Arizona
• University of California, Berkeley N.A. Studies University of California, Berkeley
• University of California, Irvine N.A. Studies University of California, Irvine
• University of California, Los Angeles N.A. Studies University of California, Los Angeles
• University of Hawaii at Manoa N.A. Studies University of Hawaii at Manoa
• University of Montana N.A. Studies University of Montana
• University of New Mexico N.A. Studies University of New Mexico
• University of Oklahoma N.A. Studies University of Oklahoma
• University of Washington N.A. Studies University of Washington

see also Guide to Native American Studies Programs in the United States and Canada

[edit] External links

• National Association of Native American Studies