Class will be offered for 8 Fridays at 10:30 to 12:30 via Zoom through the Communiversity at Providence Point starting January 7th.
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This class is a revised and enhanced iteration of the previously offered course. American Indians have not "vanished," as it is often surmised. In fact, it is quite the contrary: Native Americans are thriving and contributing to the rich tapestry of the American culture. After first looking at the Indigenous Worldview and learning how we each personally relate to it, this class will then explore several topics that are fundamental to Native people and their way of life, using the Indigenous Worldview to compare and contrast them to that of the mainstream, which is often completely opposite to the Indian Perspective. We will examine the topics listed below:

• Worldview in Indian Country

• Indian Identity                                        

• The Circularity of Life

• The Land Is Sacred

• Native Spirituality

• Oral Tradition

• The Native Community

• Indian Education & Indigenous Knowledge

Module 8:
"Indian Education & Indigenous Knowledge"

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      Given that there were an estimated 100 million Indigenous people living in North America at the time that Columbus “discovered” it; and that they had existed there for thousands of years; and their societies were able to function economically, socially, and politically, one can therefore assume that there must have been some form of “education” to pass along cultural necessities as well as the skills to continue to make the society vibrant and viable. Practices were in place all along whereby new generations became full members of society. “From the first attempts at educating American Indians, the goal has been to change them” (Anderson, T. A., Kickingbird, K., Deloria, V., Jr., Bluedog, K., Fuchs, E., & Havighurst, R., 2008, p. 2). There seems to be little doubt that the conquering Western European nations almost immediately upon contact sensed that what they were witnessing here in the New World was not acceptable to their own culture. Subsequently, their efforts to “change” the Native population manifested itself in the guise of “education.” “Formal education of Native Americans began when Europeans sought to convert them to Christianity and educate (“civilize” as they defined it) the Native peoples of this hemisphere” (Thornton, 1998, p. 79). Though the first attempt at this process is credited to the Spanish on the island of Cuba, the French, the English and the Americans all took their successive turns in applying the principles of Christianity to this virtually “virgin” territory.

Suggested Readings

Starkey: The Native American Experience

Treuer: "Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians" 

Week Essential Questions

• "Indian Education & Indigenous Knowledge"

   

Articles

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• "The Indian and Education" (Starkey)

• "Pacific Northwest Boarding Schools"

• "Death by Civilization"

• "First People’s Education"

Videos

• "Everything You Wanted To Know About Indians But Were Afraid To Ask "- Anton Treuer

                                          ( Author and friend who wrote the book)

• "Where the Spirit Lives" (Excellent dramatization of a mission boarding school)

• "Teachings of the Tree People"  - Bruce Miller

• "Food Sovereignty: Valerie Segrest"  TED Talk

Recurring Items

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• What Does it Mean to Be Indigenous?

• Terms to Be Familiar With

• Worldview Review Sheet

• Seven Sacred Teachings of the Grandfathers 

• Traditional Code of Ethics

• Native Worldview: What It is Not