Anthropology 146: North American Indians
This course is a review of Native American cultures located north of Mexico. It will cover the cultures that developed just prior to, during, and immediately after contact with non-Indian explorers and settlers. The primary themes include (1) the astonishing diversity of ways of life that developed across the North American continent; (2) the exploration of this diversity from the perspective of cultural ecology; and (3) trends of cultural change and continuity that contribute to present-day Native American cultures. We will also explore the stereotypes that plague a richer understanding of and respect for Native American communities.
What will I learn in this course?
This is a 3 credit course which reviews the Native American cultures located north of Mexico. By the end of this course, the student will be able to:
- Gain an appreciation for the tremendous cultural diversity present on the North American continent at the time of first contact with European powers.
- Acquire a balanced view of life on the North American continent prior to, during, and following initial contact with Europeans.
- Both positive and negative consequences of contact will be explored in the course.
- Examine the various environments faced by Native Americans on the North American continent and gain a deeper understanding of how each environment played a major role in the development of local Indian cultures.
- Gain the tools necessary to challenge the stereotypes and modern views of Native Americans that are propagated by television commercials, movies, magazine ads, comic books, etc.
- Gain an understanding of how native cultures from North America fit into the political and social world in both historical and more modern contexts.
This course meets the General Education Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS) requirements, the United States Cultures (US) requirements, and the Bachelor of Arts degree requirements. See your advisor if you have questions about how this course can be used in your program of study.
Are there any prerequisites for this course?
No specific classes are required before taking ANTH 146: North American Indians
I've never taken an online course before. What is it like?
This course is taught completely online. We'll use Penn State's course management system, ANGEL, for ANTH 146,and you will be able to communicate with the professor and your classmates through chat, e-mail, and threaded discussions within ANGEL.
You do not need to come to campus at any time, and you do not need a proctor or remote testing site.
An online course, however, is not easier than on-campus course. In fact, it takes a lot more self-discipline. You must be willing and able to commit the same amount of time as you would for attending class and studying for a traditional course. You must also be a motivated, organized student who feels confident about reading to learn and who is comfortable working independently. If you're wondering whether an online course is right for you, take this short survey to find out more about how online learning is different.
What are the technological requirements for this course?
- Have access to a computer that meets the ANGEL technological requirements.
- Be comfortable with navigating the Internet
How is the course structured?
ANTH 146 has 15 lessons. The main component of each lesson is a PDF file, which consists of images and text that illustrate the most important characteristics and features of the culture area or topic for the week. Most lessons will also require you to view a video, contribute to an online discussion, or complete some form of online learning activity, which will count toward your final class participation grade.
Where can I get more information?
For more information about ANTH 146 Online, see a recent course syllabus. To register, visit the Office of the University Registrar. At the beginning of each semester, all enrolled students should access ANTH 146 at the site of Penn State's course management system, ANGEL.
Native American Issues in the News
Death of Girl Part of Indian Prisons Inquiry
May 23rd, 2004—A federal probe into deaths, abuse and neglect in the Native American prison system is focusing on about 20 of the system's 74 prisons, and it includes the death of a 16-year-old girl in Oregon last December, two Interior Department officials with knowledge of the inquiry say.
Cindy Gilbert Sohappy, a member of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, was put in a holding cell attached to the Chemawa Indian School, a boarding school in Salem, Ore., when she was found to be intoxicated the night of Dec. 6. She was found dead about three hours later from alcohol poisoning. Her death raised questions about the monitoring of cells at the facility. <more>
USA Today
Some Indian Tribes Still Fighting for Government Recognition
May 22nd‚ 2004—Redding, CA (AP) - The fog dips low into the snowcapped mountains as the emerald McCloud River meanders through the valley, a silent guardian over the graves and culture of the Winnemem Wintu tribe. The tribe's spiritual leader, her face etched, walks to its bank and looks at the rock where children have received wisdom over the centuries, the grave sites only they know of and the land that sustained her ancestors. There were 14,000 Wintu. By the 1900s, massacres, disease and starvation wiped out all but 395. Today, just 125 remain. The Wintu are a tribe in every sense of the word: They eat meals together, pray together, gather for ceremonies and business. Their ancestors lived along the McCloud River in Northern California, and the river is still where the Wintu gather. They bring their children, swim in the still water, pray and visit their sacred sites. It is their purpose, they believe, to protect the McCloud. <more>.
Associated Press