The Native Peoples of North America course offers a unique perspective on American history, providing insights that challenge conventional narratives. The course explores the impact of the Columbian Exchange, which transformed the lives of Indigenous peoples and Europeans alike. The Columbian Exchange led to the transference of plants, animals, and diseases between the Americas and Eurasia and Africa, resulting in significant cultural, economic, and ecological changes.
This course delves into the resistance and accommodation, persistence and adaptation, and extraordinary hardships and survival of Indigenous peoples over 500 years of colonial encounter. Students will gain a deeper understanding of Native American cultures, traditions, and experiences, as well as their interactions with European colonizers. The course highlights the complexity and ongoing ramifications of these interactions, shedding light on issues that still affect contemporary Indigenous communities.
Through this course, students will gain a more accurate and nuanced understanding of American history, challenging commonly held beliefs and myths. The course offers a critical lens for examining the historical and ongoing struggles of Indigenous peoples for sovereignty, self-determination, and recognition.
This course is designed for anyone interested in American history, Indigenous cultures, and contemporary issues faced by Native communities. By the end of the course, students will have gained a more comprehensive and empathetic understanding of the experiences and contributions of Native Peoples of North America.
What you’ll learn:
- The impact of the Columbian Exchange on Indigenous peoples and European colonizers;
- The diversity of Indigenous cultures and traditions in North America;
- The role of Indigenous peoples in the early colonial period;
- The impact of European colonization on Indigenous communities and their responses;
- The impact of Western expansion on Indigenous communities and their displacement;
- The resurgence of Indigenous activism and cultural revitalization movements.
Who is this course for:
- Anyone interested in learning about the history and culture of Native Peoples of North America;
- Students and scholars of American history, anthropology, and Indigenous studies;
- Educators and teachers seeking to incorporate Indigenous perspectives into their curriculum;
- Individuals working with or within Indigenous communities, organizations, or governments;
Anyone interested in gaining a deeper understanding of contemporary issues faced by Indigenous communities.
