Native American Studies

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The study of the history, culture, and experiences of Indigenous peoples of North America.

History of Native Americans: A study of the historical experience of Native American societies including their migration, interactions with colonizers and contemporary issues.
Culture of Native Americans: A study of the cultural aspects of Native American society including their way of life, religion, art, music, and language.
Tribal Sovereignty: A study of the legal and political status of Native American tribes and their relationship with the United States government.
Colonization and Conquest: A study of how Native American societies became colonized and conquered by European settlers and the impact of this on their traditional way of life.
Indigenous Languages: A study of the Indigenous languages spoken by Native American tribes and the efforts to preserve and revitalize them.
Contemporary Issues Affecting Native Americans: A study of the contemporary issues facing Native American communities including poverty, health disparities, environmental justice, and political representation.
Genocide, Trauma and Healing: A study of the impact of genocide, forced removals and other traumatic historical events on Native American communities and the process of healing and reconciliation.
Indigenous Knowledge Systems: A study of the traditional knowledge systems and practices of Native American tribes including medicine, agriculture, and ecological management.
Native American Identity and Representation: A study of the issues of identity and representation affecting Native American communities including stereotypes, racism, and cultural appropriation.
Literature and Film: A study of the literary and cinematic representations of Native American societies and culture and their impact on popular culture.
- "Native American studies is an interdisciplinary academic field that examines the history, culture, politics, issues, spirituality, sociology, and contemporary experience of Native peoples in North America."
- "Native American studies is also known as American Indian, Indigenous American, Aboriginal, Native, or First Nations studies."
- "Native American studies scholars consider a variety of perspectives and employ diverse analytical and methodological tools in their work."
- "Increasingly, debate has focused on the differences rather than the similarities between other Ethnic studies disciplines such as African American studies, Asian American Studies, and Latino/a Studies."
- "The political sovereignty of many indigenous nations marks substantive differences in historical experience from that of other racial and ethnic groups in the United States and Canada."
- "Drawing from numerous disciplines such as anthropology, sociology, history, literature, political science, and gender studies..."
- "Two key concepts shape Native American studies, according to Crow Creek Lakota scholar Elizabeth Cook-Lynn, indigenousness (as defined in culture, geography, and philosophy) and sovereignty (as legally and historically defined)."
- "Practitioners advocate for decolonization of indigenous peoples, political autonomy, and the establishment of a discipline dedicated to alleviating contemporary problems facing indigenous peoples."
- "Native American studies examines the history, culture, politics, issues, spirituality, sociology, and contemporary experience of Native peoples in North America, or, taking a hemispheric approach, the Americas."
- "Native American studies scholars consider a variety of perspectives and employ diverse analytical and methodological tools in their work."
- "Drawing from numerous disciplines such as anthropology, sociology, history, literature, political science, and gender studies..."
- "Native American studies examines the history, culture, politics, issues, spirituality, sociology, and contemporary experience of Native peoples."
- "Sovereignty (is) legally and historically defined."
- "Practitioners advocate for the... establishment of a discipline dedicated to alleviating contemporary problems facing indigenous peoples."
- "The political sovereignty of many indigenous nations marks substantive differences in historical experience from that of other racial and ethnic groups in the United States and Canada."
- "Indigenousness (is defined) in culture, geography, and philosophy."
- "Practitioners advocate for decolonization of indigenous peoples."
- "Native American studies scholars consider a variety of perspectives and employ diverse analytical and methodological tools in their work."
- "Native American studies scholars consider a variety of perspectives and employ diverse analytical and methodological tools in their work."
- "Native American studies examines the history, culture, politics, issues, spirituality, sociology, and contemporary experience of Native peoples."