First Nations Studies

Programmatic Outcomes

Oral Tradition & Elder Knowledge:

Students will work with Elders in a tribal setting.
Students will demonstrate oral traditional learning, listening, and remembering skills.
Students will demonstrate the tribal values of respect, reciprocity, relationship, and responsibility.
Students will take part in and demonstrate an understanding of Elder epistemology.
Students will demonstrate protocols for learning and working in a tribal setting.
Students will take part in participatory learning and will discuss the form and function of this traditional teaching/learning approach.

History – Precontact, Contact, Contemporary Eras:

Students will demonstrate an understanding of First Nations history in each of the three eras – precontact, contact, and contemporary.
Students will demonstrate an in-depth developed historical awareness of the history of one nation in Wisconsin.
Students will draw upon the oral tradition in the study of history.
Students will use electronic and written sources in their study of history.
Students will identify the political, economic, and social status of First Nations in each of the three historical eras.

Sovereignty:

Students will define and understand precontact tribal sovereignty.
Students will explain the erosion and persistence of tribal sovereignty after contact.
Students will explain the federal trust relationship in the context of treaty-making.
Students will demonstrate an understanding of ways to promote and protect tribal sovereignty.
Students will understand and demonstrate personal sovereignty.

Laws and Policies:

Students will understand and explain the major formal (congressional acts, court cases) and informal policies that make up the body of First Nations law.
Students will provide a critical analysis of the major formal and informal policies in #1 above.
Students will understand the powers and limitations of contemporary tribal governments.
Students will use electronic and written materials in their examination of laws and policies.

Indigenous Philosophy and Intellectual Traditions:

Students will demonstrate an understanding of Elder epistemology in the oral tradition.
Students will learn in a tribal community setting or holistic, Indigenous education setting.
Students will demonstrate an understanding of First Nations philosophical teachings.
Students will demonstrate an awareness of American Indian historical and contemporary intellectuals.
Students will demonstrate an understanding of First Nations values and their expression in a cultural context.
Students will explain internalized oppression and approaches to decolonization.

Language:

Students will identify the major language families on Turtle Island and explain how languages change over time.
Students will understand the importance of language and cultural revitalization efforts.
Students will demonstrate some acquisition of a First Nations language.
Students will engage in language acquisition in a tribal setting or holistic, Indigenous education setting.