MSU-Northern: Arts & Sciences - Native American Studies

Native American Studies

The purpose of Native American Studies Minor (NAS) is to prepare students to careers dealing with Native American affairs and issues, esp. in local Indian reservations, and to broaden students’ Liberal Studies education and their civic preparation.

NAS minor is perfect for students majoring in Education, Community Services, History and Liberal Studies, among other disciplines.

The purpose of Native American Studies is to fill entering students’ obvious lack of exposure to cultural diversity, a requirement mandatory for many students, esp. those preparing to become teachers in a state where Native Americans form the largest ethnic minority.

Upon completing the Native American Studies minor the students will be able to:

Demonstrate a working knowledge of Native American cultures, history, literature and present political set-up of Native communities (NAS 220, 310, 350, 364);
Describe and compare the political, socio-economic, spiritual and traditional aspects of more than two Native American groups (NAS 220, 310, 330, 364);
Analyze social problems, social structures and human behaviors of Native Americans (NAS 220, 310, 364);
Understand how generalizations and inaccuracies have led and lead to prejudice that has negatively affected Native American life (NAS 220, 350, 364).

Assessment methods

Instructors’ evaluation of student learning is based on three main categories:

Written evaluation, which measures students’ ability to express themselves through short and longer assignments, to analyze and critically review texts in question;
Oral class participation, which measures students’ ability to express their thoughts on the assigned topics and issues regarding Native American presence and past;
Written examinations, which measure students’ ability to understand the basic concepts and to express in written format their thoughts and thinking on key issues of Native American Studies.

Evaluation is specifically geared toward meeting the above four program outcomes. Testing is both sufficiently specific and broad to measure students’ ability to obtain skills necessary to have a successful career dealing with Native American issues. Satisfactory fulfillment of course requirements will demonstrate students’ ability to advance to their professional field. Many recent MSU-Northern graduates with NAS minor have been hired by local Native American governments to fill professional positions necessary for tribal success.

NAS Minor Requirements

Course Prefix	#	Course Title	Credits
NAS	105	Introduction to Native American Language
		OR
NAS	106	Native American Language II	3
NAS	220	Introduction to Ethnic Indian Studies (CAT V)	3
NAS	250	Montana Indians: Cultures, Traditions, and Current Issues	3
NAS	310	Native Cultures of North America (CAT V)	3
NAS	330	American Indian Oral Tradition (CAT V)
		OR
NAS	331	Literature by and about Native Americans (CAT V)	3
NAS	350	Federal Indian Law (CAT V)	3
NAS	364	History of American Indians (CAT V)	3
		Total credits required for minor:	21

CAT V courses meet Cultural Diversity requirements for associate of arts,
associate of science, and bachelor’s degrees at Montana State University-Northern.



Course Descriptions
NAS 105 Introduction to Native American Language 3 semester credits Taught by Lloyd Top Sky Introduction to one of several Native American languages, concentrating on simple conversations and the relationship of language to culture. The particular language to be studied will vary depending on availability of instruction. Taught by Native speakers, two semesters of NAS 105 (six semester credits) will fulfill the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences language requirement. NAS 106 Native American Language II 3 semester credits Taught by Lloyd Top Sky NAS 106 is a continuation of Introduction to Native American Language concentrating on conversations and the relationship of language to culture. The particular language to be studied will vary depending on availability of instruction. Prerequisite: NAS 105. NAS 220 Introduction to Ethnic Indian Studies 3 semester credits Taught by Dr. Jaakko Puisto Interdisciplinary treatment of Native American studies. Provides general background and understanding of American Indian cultures. NAS 230, Native American Beliefs and Religions 3 Semester Credits Taught by Lloyd Top Sky The sacred customs, traditions and beliefs of Native Americans have been, and are, greatly misunderstood by the mainstream society. The introduction within the boundaries of Native American practices and beliefs will apply to debates of classroom presentations. The class will concentrate on the various plains tribes in Montana and Canada; on tribal spiritual leaders, philosophers and practitioners; on guardian spirits, ceremonies and tribal languages; and on the U.S. Supreme Court rulings and relevant congressional acts. NAS 250 Montana Indians: Cultures, Traditions and Current Issues 3 semester credits Taugth by Jaakko Puisto This course will deal with several major issues: One, the U.S.-Canada international border cuts between Native territories due to international negotiations in which Natives had no role. How has the border affected, and how does it continue to affect, their lives? Two, the histories and cultures of Montana’s seven reservations and twelve Native groups vary and are complicated. The histories of the people and the reservations will be covered. Three, the course will include bringing in elders from the Hi-Line reservations to tell the cultures, traditions and present issues from their perspectives. Has a fee of $25 per student to cover the costs of bringing in elders from local reservations. NAS 310 Native Cultures of North America 3 semester credits Taught by Dr. Jaakko Puisto and Dr. John Snider Background on the extent and diversity of Native American cultural groups in North America, including languages, geographic locations of cultural groups, and the material, spiritual, and artistic cultures of American Indian tribal groups.		NAS 330 American Indian Oral Tradition 3 semester credits Taught by Dr. John Snider A study of the oral traditions of various American Indian cultures, including examination of Indian language families, oral history traditions, oral literature, ritual and spiritual observances, together with English translations of Indian memoirs, autobiographies, and religious works. NAS 331/ENGL 331 Literature by and About Native Americans 3 semester credits Taught by Dr. John Snider A critical and cultural examination of a representative number of major works written about Native Americans by non-Native Americans and major works by Native Americans. Readings include mythology, poetry, essays, novels, and non-fiction. NAS 350 Indian Law 3 semester credits Taught by Dr. Jaakko Puisto Treats the present applications and precedents of Federal Indian law and its historical development, including Indian treaties, tribal sovereignty, jurisdictional disputes, tribal and state powers of taxation, economic and environmental controls, and real property interests. NAS 364/HIST 364 History of American Indians 3 semester credits Taught by Dr. Jaakko Puisto History of American Indians from Pre-Columbian times to the present, with special emphasis on demographic shifts caused by encroaching European and American westward expansion, and relationships between Native Americans and immigrants. NAS 3xx /HIST 3xx History of the American West (Proposed) 3 semester credits Taught by Dr. Jaakko Puisto Examination of the social, political, economic, and cultural aspects of the American West, with emphasis on the importance of the multicultural character of the western half of the North America . NAS 3xx/HIS 3xx Indians of Latin America (Proposed) 3 semester credits Taught by Jamie Underwood An interdisciplinary overview of the geography, peoples, history & culture of the advanced Western Hemisphere Native American civilizations from the Neolithic to the Conquest. Traces evolution of civilization in Andean & Mesoamerica from mother cultures to the Incas and Aztecs. Examines impact of Conquest on indigenous peoples, their legacy to the region & roles in modern-day Latin American society.