(for 2012–2013 academic year) Professors Aveni, Kerber (Director), Vecsey
Assistant Professor Taylor
Advisory Committee Aveni, Hutton-Hughes, Kagle, Kerber (Director), Klugherz, Lorenz, Reinbold, Roller, Taylor, Vecsey, Wider
Colgate’s major in Native American studies offers students the opportunity to undertake a comparative and historical study of the pre-Columbian, colonial, and contemporary cultures of North and Latin America.
The required and elective courses are drawn from a wide range of disciplines, representing the various topical and areal interests of Colgate faculty members whose specializations concern the archaeology, art, culture, geography, history, literature, music, religion, and Euro-American contact of native populations in the New World. Themes and topics of the major include the integrity, richness, and complexity of indigenous cultures of the Western hemisphere; the reciprocal impact of traditions and interests that occurred with colonization; modes and processes of cultural change; cultural disintegration, survival, and revitalization; and an understanding of the variety of methodological and theoretical approaches to Native American studies. This major provides an excellent background for professional work or continuing studies in the areas of inter-American relations, Latin American studies, anthropology, archaeology, history, government services, art history, museum studies, music, and religion.
The Native American studies (NAST) major consists of nine courses:
1. SOAN 358, Native American Cultures or
HIST 358, Conquest and Colony: Cultural Encounters in the New World
2. An approved 400-level course or an approved 400-level independent study project
3. Of the remaining seven courses, at least two courses must be taken in each of these areas: North American (N), and Latin American (L)
ARTS/SOAN 249, Art and Architecture of the Ancient Americas (L)
ARTS/SOAN 250, Native Arts of North America (N)
ARTS 484, Seminar on Topical Theme in Art (N, L)
ASTR 230/SOAN 230, Astronomy in Culture (L)
CORE 168C, The Arctic (N)
CORE 176C, North American Indians (N)
CORE 188C, The Iroquois (N)
EDUC 311, History of Native American Education (N)
ENGL 204, American Literatures: Native American Writers (N)
ENGL 336, Native American Literature (N)
ENGL 418, Studies in American Literature: Seminar in Native American Literature (N)
HIST 310, American Indian History (N)
HIST 322, Race and Ethnicity in Latin America (L)
NAST 211, Native American Images on Film (N)
NAST 291, 391, 491, Independent Studies NAST 302, Contemporary Issues in Native American Studies (N)
NAST 313Y, Southwest Native Arts and Culture (N)
RELG 318, American Indian Religions (N)
RELG 405, Sacred Texts: Navajo Creation (N)
SOAN 202, Ancient States and Empires (L)
SOAN/CLAS 240, World Archaeology, Material Culture, and Identity (L)
SOAN 300, Museum Studies in Native American Cultures (N)
SOAN 309Y, Colonialism and Development (N, L)
SOAN 349Y, Frontiers and Borders (N, L)
SOAN 352, North American Indian Archaeology (N)
SOAN 353, Field Methods and Interpretation in Archaeology (N)
SOAN 356, Ethical Issues in Native American Archaeology (N)
SOAN 359Y, Archaeology and Ethnology of Southwestern Indians (N)
SOAN 360, Comparative Cosmologies (L)
4. With permission of the director of Native American studies, the following courses may also be counted among the North and Latin American electives of the major when they have appropriate course content or a research paper is undertaken in one of these areas:
CORE 171C, Mexico (L)
CORE 177C, Peru (L)
CORE 182C, Guatemala (L)
CORE 193C, Brazil (L)
ENGL 305, The Female Protagonist (N)
HIST 209, The Atlantic World, 1492–1800 (L, N)
HIST 230, The Making of Latin America (L)
HIST 231, Resistance and Revolt in Latin America (L)
HIST 480, Seminar on Problems in Latin American History (L)
MUSI 221, World Music: Latin America (L)
SOAN 357, The Origins of Writing (L)
SOAN 452, Senior Seminar: Issues in Contemporary Anthropology SOAN 453, Senior Seminar: Issues in Contemporary Sociology SOAN 454, Senior Seminar: Issues in Contemporary Sociology and Anthropology
5. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in archaeological or anthropological fieldwork (e.g.,
SOAN 353). With the advice and consent of the director, students are encouraged to enroll for a summer or term in field schools in archaeology or social anthropology, or Native American community colleges. Such approved programs may earn Native American studies course credit.
In order to complete a minor in Native American studies, students must take five courses, including the
SOAN 358 or
HIST 358 requirement and at least one course in each of these areas: North American (N) and Latin American (L).
Majors may achieve honors by having, at graduation, a minimum GPA of 3.30 in major courses and a minimum overall grade of 3.00. The candidate for honors also completes a research paper, written either in a 400-level independent study course or revised from a paper written in a 400-level course, or the equivalent, that is arranged in advance as an honors paper in Native American studies. The honors paper must be judged to be of honors quality by a committee, designated by the candidate in consultation with the program director, of two professors in Native American studies. The candidate works with both professors (adviser and second reader) who are consulted during thesis development and provide comments on at least one substantive draft of the research paper prior to their final evaluation. The candidate for high honors must have, at graduation, a minimum GPA of 3.70 in major courses and a minimum overall grade of 3.00. The candidate for high honors produces a research paper, as described above, that is arranged in advance as a high honors paper. If the paper is judged to be of high honors quality by a committee, designated by the candidate in consultation with the program director, consisting of two professors in Native American studies, the candidate receives high honors by defending the paper with distinction in an oral examination conducted by at least three professors identified by the Native American Studies Program director.
In odd-numbered years, an off-campus study group to Santa Fe, New Mexico, is offered to enable a select group of Colgate students to further their understanding of Native American history, archaeology, life, and culture. See “Off-Campus Study Group Programs: United States” in Chapter VI. Majors and minors are strongly encouraged to participate in this study group.
An extended study program to Michoacan, Mexico (
CORE 191C) explores Mexican history, culture, and daily life as an extension of
CORE 171C, Mexico.
Courses unique to the Native American Studies Program (NAST) are described below. Descriptions of other courses noted above may be found under appropriate departments.
211 American Indian Images on Film M. Taylor
A critical analysis of American Indian images in documentary films, Hollywood productions, and television formats, from the early days of the moving image to the present. The course assesses the historical representation of Native Americans by non-Indians, as well as the contemporary work of American Indian filmmakers, comparing the cultural contexts and social implications of the two sets of viewpoints. The course is designed to offer another perspective on — and of — American Native peoples, as opposed to that created by Hollywood’s mythic “reality.”
302 Contemporary Issues in Native American Studies M. Taylor
This course focuses on various issues facing Native American communities today. Areas explored in the course include cultural expression, sovereignty, land claims, environmental protection, education, healthcare systems, religious rights, and economic development, among others. When taught as part of the Native American Studies Study Group in Santa Fe, New Mexico (
302Y), students participate in a variety of service learning projects at one of the Pueblos or in relevant agencies.
313Y Southwest Native Arts and Culture S. Wider
This course is concerned with the ongoing, and longstanding, debates concerning native art in the American southwest. What “authenticates” “Indian art” and why does it “need” such authentication? How do the older divisions separating “craft” and “art” intersect with the current issues facing individuals whose life work is now linked to the marketing of the arts? Where do definitions of “traditional” and “contemporary” compete with each other, and where do they prove complementary? Over the semester, students consider a wide range of media: traditional pottery, contemporary clay sculpture, metalsmithing, drum-making, weaving, dance, music, painting, and theater.
291, 391, 491 Independent Study