NASX 524 Contemporary Issues in American Indian Studies
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Course DescriptionCourse provides a graduate level overview of contemporary political, economic, social, and cultural issues facing Native America. As there are more than 570 self-governing Indian nations in the United States, we will begin by focusing on the tribal nations of Montana. This course aims to tie in with other course offerings, such as Federal Indian Law and Policy and Dispelling the Myths. Given the complexity of the topic this course serves as a beginning point for further discussion and research. Stereotypes, misinformation, iconography, folklore, and so much more obscure our perception of Native Americans. A challenge is the tendency of non-Natives to see Native Americans through the lens of history, to speak of indigenous people and nations in the past tense - Native Americans are “frozen in time.” But to the contrary, real Native nations, communities, and peoples are living contemporary lives. They are balancing the day-to-day demands of life surrounded by a Western society, struggling to retain their Native identity. While the issues and concerns are as varied as the Native American Nations, some common threads run through their experiences. Through discussions, case studies, and other assignments students will acquire a general overview to many of today’s major issues that are relevant in Native America and beyond. Instructor
Erika Ross, M.A., is the Academic Services Coordinator for the Department of Native American Studies where she also assists in course instruction, and serves as the Co-Advisor for the Missing & Murdered Indigenous People’s Student Association. Erika earned her Master of Arts in Native American Studies from MSU in 2021, with her research focus on educational betrayal trauma and psychological resilience. Her teaching follows an interdisciplinary approach with stress on Indigenous peoples and land. From Tulsa, Oklahoma, Erika relocated to Montana in 2015 to continue working with tribal nations. Erika’s family’s lineage includes members of the Wolf Clan of the Cherokee Nation, and members of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Tuition and FeesIf you are accepted into a qualified online program, see the appropriate MSU Tuition and Fee table below: For more information, view MSU Fee Schedules.
How to Register You must be accepted as a student to Montana State University to take this course. Learn how to apply. Students register for courses via MSU's online registration system, MyInfo. Registration requires a PIN number. Learn how to find your PIN. Once you have your PIN, learn how to register through MyInfo.
For course information: Please contact Erika Ross at erika.ross1@montana.edu. |
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