FNS Courses

INTRO TO FNS: AMERICAN INDIAN SOCIAL JUSTICE
Course Syllabus

Dr. L. Poupart Office Phone: 465-2185
Office TH #395
E-Mail Address: PoupartL@uwgb.edu

COURSE DESCRIPTION :

This is an introductory course in First Nation Studies. The course will explore the general distinctions between American Indian Nations in (what is now) the United States . We will briefly examine the traditional cultures and life ways of the American Indian Nations as they existed prior to mass European invasion and influence. Moreover, we will examine the multiple factors that brought about the destruction and loss of these traditional ways over time. We will closely examine the ways in which Euro-American political, economic, legal, and social power facilitated the near genocide of American Indian Nations. The course will conclude with an exploration of the persistence of American Indian people in the U.S. today. Throughout the course we will discuss and dispel popular stereotypes regarding American Indian people and explore the how these stereotypes are harmful to Indian people. Whenever possible, we will focus our exploration of American Indians by drawing upon the Wisconsin American Indian Nations for specific examples and illustrations. These Nations include the Anishinabe (Ojibway), Menominee, Oneida , Hochungra (Winnebago), Mohican (Stockbridge-Munsee), and Potawatomi. However, because this is an introductory course, our exploration of Wisconsin Indian Nations will be broad based.

The goal of this course is to explore critically the changing status of American Indian Nations within Wisconsin and, moreover, the U.S., and to examine how these changes are both impacted and created by each one of us. We will read, discuss and think together in an effort to take steps toward personal growth and community building.

THIS IS A WRITING EMPHASIS COURSE!

COURSE REQUIREMENTS :

1. Written Assignments. Drawing upon the readings and class discussions, you are to discuss your responses, thoughts, insights, etc. to the readings and class discussions. 5 assignments will be given throughout the semester. For each written assignment, I will ask you to respond to specific question(s) and may also ask you to develop and explore your own questions. The assignments are intended to demonstrate your competence in the course readings and concepts. All assignments must be typed with correct grammar, course terminology, and spelling. NO late assignments will be accepted under any circumstance! The weekly written assignments will be worth 10 points each, or 50 total points toward your final grade.

2. Research Paper. You are required to write one research paper which is due at the end of the semester. The purpose of this paper is to use the literature (from class and elsewhere) and the course material to explore and discuss one contemporary issue or topic related to American Indian Nations today. A two page, typed paper introduction (including thesis statement,, paper description, pre-research, reading list, outline, and sources) is due at mid-semester. The final paper must be approximately 8 pages MINIMUM or more in length. Paper and proposal must follow this format: typed, double-spaced, times roman 12 pt. font (minimum), 1 inch margins, and proper citing of references. The proposal will be worth 15 points. The final paper is worth 85 points. Together, the paper and the proposal will count for 25% of your final grade.

3. Exams. Take two in-class essay exams (a mid-term and a final) to demonstrate your competence in the readings, course concepts, class assignments, and class discussions. Each exam will be worth 100 points. Thus, both exam scores make up 50% of your final grade.

4. Class Participation & Group Work. In-class participation. You are required to participate in formal classroom discussions AND in class group work exercises. At the beginning of the semester you will be assigned to a group with at least seven other participants. Throughout the semester you will meet and work on exercises and formal assignments with your fellow group members. Everyone is required to participate equally in the class and within their groups! Your participation in the larger class discussions and in your small group is worth the final 50 points (25 each) of your grade.

ATTENDANCE POLICY: Because group participation comprises a large portion of your grade, your presence in the classroom and in your small group is critical. Therefore, you are expected to attend every class period. At each class, roll will be called or an attendance sheet will be passed around for you to sign in on. You are allowed 2 "excused" absences for the semester if your class meets once a week and 4 "excused" absences if your class meets twice a week. Excused absences should include medical emergencies (with Dr. excuse), family emergency (death in family, etc.). Each "excused" absence exceeding your class limit will result in the lowering of your final grade one grade level. Do NOT telephone or email the instructor when you are missing class. You should receive any missed work from one of your group mates.

PLAGIARISM AND CHEATING: Students are required to do their own work! Cheating, plagiarizing, and copying from other students will be handled in accordance with UWGB rules governing academic misconduct.

REQUIRED TEXTS/READINGS :

Boatman, John. 1993. My Elders Taught Me: Great Lakes American Indian Philosophy. Lanham , Maryland : University Press of America .

Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission. 1998. Chippewa Treaty Rights Guide. Second Edition.

Jaimes, A.J. and Annette Halsey. 1992. State of Native America : Genocide, Colonization, and Resistance. Boston , Mass: South End Press.

Loew, Patty. 2001. Indian Nations of Wisconsin : Histories of Endurance and Renewal. Madison , WI : Wisconsin Historical Society Press.

Mihesuah, Devon A. 1996. American Indians Stereotypes and Realities. Atlanta , Georgia : Clarity Press.

REQUIRED Cofrin Library Reserve Desk Readings (Student ID required to obtain these materials):

Deloria, Vine Jr. and Clifford Lytle. "American Indians in Historical Perspective." In American Indians, American Justice. Austin , Texas : University of Texas Press. Call Number: POUPART X1

Lyons, Oren. "The American Indian in the Past." In Exiled in the Land of the Free. Santa Fe , NM : Clear Light Press. Call number: POUPART X3

OPTIONAL EXTRA CREDIT : You are allowed to earn up to 12 MAXIMUM points of extra credit for this course. Extra credit ONLY for the following:

A. Oneida Nation Fall Harvest Days. Dates TBA. Spend a morning or afternoon volunteering with the Oneida Nation during their fall harvest. You will be helping the Nation harvest corn. After the experience write a one page (double spaced) reflection paper. Worth 10 points.

B. Oneida Nation Museum Visit: On your own. Located at W892 Co. Rd. EE. Call #869-2768 for museum hours and location. There is a nominal admission fee. Take the self-guided tour of the exhibits in and outside the museum. Write a 1 page typed reaction paper describing your experience. Worth 5 points.

Absolutely NO OTHER extra credit points or options will be given for this course!

COURSE EVALUATION : 400 points possible for course:

Written Assignments: Exams:

  1. 10 points Mid-term: 100 points
  2. 10 points Final: 100 points
  3. 10 points
  4. 10 points Group/Class participation: 50 points
  5. 10 points

Total = 50 points Final Paper: 85 points; Paper Proposal: 15 points

Grading Scale :

Course Topics and Reading Schedule

Intro to First Nation Studies: American Indian Social Justice

Contemporary Issue Final Paper Topics

In the paper you are to examine one contemporary issue facing one or more American Indian nations today. You are to:

1. Describe your contemporary issue and explain why it is important to American Indian people. Explain how it impacts American Indian people today. This is NOT a point/counterpoint paper where you discuss all sides of a particular issue. Your primary focus should be on the American Indian perspective regarding the topic you select.

2. Explore the historical development of the contemporary issue. In other words, (a) explore how the issue developed and progressed with Euro-American contact and policies (b) explain what existed in relationship to your issue prior to contact (if possible). You will be comparing changes that occurred over time due to contact.

3. Lastly, in your paper you should include a short narrative section that relates what it means to you to be writing about the issue you have chosen. Why did you choose it? What is your personal position on the issue? In addition, you should discuss what it means to you to be writing about a group that has experienced great cultural losses due to western colonization.

For your research, you are to draw on outside sources for your information. In drawing on these sources, you must include sources of from actual American Indians, either as scholars, writers, or interviewees. These sources will primarily be secondary written sources of information like those found in the Jaimes book. However, you are NOT to rely solely on information obtained from web sites, Anglo historians, anthropologists, archaeologists, reporters, etc. You must include information from indigenous people. However, sometimes tribal web sites can be good sources of this kind of information.

Research Paper Introduction (or Proposal): The purpose of the research paper introduction/proposal is to identify and discuss your contemporary issue and to draw upon and incorporate the research you have already done related to your topic. In other words, the proposal should look like a mini-paper. The research introduction/proposal must be two typed pages of written text describing your contemporary issue and related research. You must include a clear thesis statement in the introduction of the proposal. In addition to the two typed pages, you must include a tentative paper outline, list of references used for the proposal, and a list of references that you will use for the paper but did not use for the proposal.

Final Paper: Due in class on the day of final exam. A minimum of eight written pages of text. Pages and space used for charts, tables, pictures, bibliography page, contents page, etc. will be in addition to the required 8 written pages. You must include a clear thesis statement in the introduction of your paper. For most people this will literally mean that you include a sentence that states, "The purpose of this paper is..."

GUIDELINES GOVERNING RESEARCH PROPOSALS AND FINAL PAPERS :

Typed, double-spaced, courier 12 pt font or smaller font, 1 inch margins, proper citing of references (mla, apa, etc.), a minimum of 75% of the paper in your own words, 25% or less quoted material. Plagiarism will be handled according to UWGB rules governing academic misconduct.

REFERENCE REQUIREMENT : For this paper, you will be required to cite and incorporate a minimum of two research articles from academic journals as sources upon which you drew your information. The academic journals in First Nation Studies include the American Indian Culture and Research Journal, American Indian Quarterly, Wicaza Sa Review, Akwesasne Notes, and others. These articles must be properly cited in your reference (bibliography) page.

ALL RESEARCH INFORMATION for this paper can be found using the Cofrin Library on-line research tools. These will be explained during the Library Reasearch Day in-class. Before writing a proposal, you should do a word/topic search at the library to generate a list of potential sources of information in order to determine if enough material is available for your paper.

Draft Option: You may turn in a draft copy of your paper two weeks in advance of the due date. I will read and mock-grade your draft, indicating revisions and telling you what you need to do to receive an "A" on the final copy.

Writing Center : If you need help writing this research paper, the Writing Center (CL 109) staff will assist you. They can also provide you with information on how to paraphrase and properly cite references in your paper.

Sample topics:

*You should not write about spearfishing rights since this topic will be examined in class.

FNS-226 Intro to FNS: American Indian Social Justice

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT QUESTIONS

Drawing upon the readings and class discussions, you are to discuss your responses, thoughts, insights, etc. to the readings and class discussions. The assignments are intended to demonstrate your competence in the course readings and concepts. All assignments must be typed (double spaced), in essay format, with correct grammar, course terminology, and spelling. NO late assignments will be accepted under any circumstance! The weekly written assignments will be worth 10 points each. Do not turn in these assignments before the due dates.

ASSIGNMENT #1:

Using the Oren Lyons reading on e-reserve , thoroughly discuss each of the following:

What is the Great Law of Peace why is it significant to the Haudenosaunee people? How is the Haudenosaunee political structure organized? Who is the Peacemaker and what role did he play? (3 pages approximately)

ASSIGNMENT #2:

Using the Deloria and Lytle reading on e-reserve AND the Jaimes chapter (Key Indian Laws and Cases), discuss each of the following.

Identify the names and dates of each of the six historical eras in American Indian policy. Within each of these eras, identify and explain the major policy or policies which characterize that era. Describe the impact these policies on American Indian people. (5 pages approximately)

ASSIGNMENT #3:

Using the Noriega chapter in the Jaimes book, thoroughly discuss each of the following:

Identify and discuss the multiple ways European and American education was used to colonize American Indian nations. Be sure to link your answer to the course definition of colonization: "to secure political, economic, and social control over a people and their lands."

(3 pages approximately)

ASSIGNMENT #4:

Using the Jaimes and Loew readings AND the Treaty Rights Guide thoroughly discuss each of the following:

What are Anishinabe (Chippewa or Ojibwe) "usufructuary rights?" What is the historical origin of these rights (or where do they originate)? What are some of the reasons so many non-Indians were opposed to these rights? What is your position on the assertion of these rights? (Approximately 3-4 pages)

ASSIGNMENT #5:

Using the Churchill and LaDuke chapter in the Jaimes book, thoroughly answer the following:

What is the "political economy of radioactive colonialism?" Be sure to link your answer to the course definition of colonization: "to secure political, economic, and social control over a people and their lands." Discuss specific examples from the text to illustrate your answer. What is your reaction to learning about this form of present-day colonization? (Approximately 3 pages).