American Indian Studies

• Coordinator: Karren Baird-Olson
• Sierra Hall (SH) 158
• (818) 677-5442
• www.csun.edu/csbs

AIS Advisory Board

• Scott Andrews (English)
• Douglas Carranza (Central American Studies)
• Rosa Furumoto (Chicana/o Studies)
• Sheila Grant (Psychology)
• Sharon Klein (English/Linguistics/TESL)
• Roberta Madison (Health Sciences)
• Breny Mendoza (Gender and Women’s Studies),Mutombo Nkulu-Nsengha (Religious Studies)
• Sirena Pellarolo (Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures)
• Kathryn Sorrells (Communication Studies)
• Loretta Winters (Sociology) and Gregory Velazco y Trianosky (Philosophy)

Interdisciplinary Program

• Minor in American Indian Studies

The Minor

The American Indian Studies (AIS) minor provides access to the unique cultures and historical and contemporary experiences of sovereign Indian nations. Topics that will be examined in the interdisciplinary minor include American Indian law and policy, internal colonization, contemporary social issues, metaphysics, art, music and literature.

The program is designed to enhance the understanding and respect of First People cultures and the unique sovereign status of First Nations. Many of the courses will satisfy requirements in several majors. AIS 101 Introduction to American Indian Studies and AIS 304 American Indian Law and Policy will also meet the General Education Comparative Cultural Studies requirement. In addition, AIS 401 Contemporary American Indian Social Issues is a community partnership course. The Program provides background for undergraduate or advanced study in anthropology, art, business, communication, criminology, education, English, geography, health sciences, history, language and linguistic studies, political science, pre-law, philosophy, psychology, religious studies, sociology, and women’s studies and for comparative study in other ethnic study programs.

Mission

Through its commitment to traditional indigenous approaches, AIS education is learning-centered. AIS aims to provide access to the unique cultures and experiences of sovereign Indian nations and to educate a critical mass of students with knowledge of the voices and metaphysical systems of First Nation Peoples. Through AIS courses, student organizations, research and community partnerships, CSU, Northridge will provide an invaluable resource to the larger indigenous Southern California communities.

Academic Advisement

Advisement is available from the Coordinator of American Indian Studies or from selected members of the AIS Advisory Board whose names will be available at the AIS Office, SH 158. In addition, First People community representatives serving on the AIS Advisory Board will be available for consultation.

Program Goals

By completing the minor, students will have the essential proficiency and skills necessary to acquire an appreciation of historical and contemporary multiplicity of First Nation Peoples experiences within the framework of internal colonization. The program objective is to develop in every student the following qualities:

1. Skills to question and evaluate one’s own attitudes and beliefs about American Indians.
2. Knowledge of the diversity of American Indian cultural experiences and the shared commonalities.
3. Knowledge of the impact of colonization upon American Indians social institutions such as family, education, economy, governance, and religion.

Student Learning Outcomes of the Undergraduate Program

Graduates of the AIS Program will be able:

1. To demonstrate the ability to further refine critical thinking, written, and oral communication skills and other creative endeavors.
2. To develop a critical and reflective perspective on Western interpretations of the experiences of First Nation Peoples, in particular an understanding of internal colonialism.
3. To demonstrate an appreciation of the commonalties and the uniqueness of indigenous cultures and nations.
4. To demonstrate a commitment through effective community service to work cooperatively with indigenous peoples.
5. Demonstrate an enhanced ability to respect indigenous communities

Interdisciplinary Program

• Minor in African Studies

The Minor

The minor in African Studies is designed to provide an interdisciplinary approach to the study of African history, literature, politics, geography and cultures. It provides a background for advanced study of Africa and for teaching Africa and World Cultures in elementary and secondary schools. Students may take courses in several departments which satisfy the minor requirements or may use these courses as electives in their majors. All students interested in the African Studies Minor must see a member of the Program Committee or the Coordinator of African Studies to work out a program that will meet their own specific needs and interests.

Academic Advisement

Advisement is available from the Coordinator of African Studies and the members of the Program Committee listed above.

Requirements for the Minor

1. Required Courses (9 units)

• AIS 101 Introduction to American Indian Studies (3)*
• AIS 401 Seminar in Contemporary Issues of American Indians (3)
• HIST 369 History of American Indians (3)

2. Electives (9 units)

• AIS 301 First Peoples and Popular Culture (3)**
• AIS 304 American Indian Law and Policy (3)*
• ANTH 306 Indians of North America (3)
• ANTH 307 Indians of California and the Southwest (3)
• ART 401 Arts of Native North American Societies (3)
• ENGL 314 North American Indian Literature (3)
• HIST 402 Writing Family History (3)
• RS 308 Religions of the North American Indians (3)
• AIS 499A-C Independent Study (1-3)

*General Education, Comparative Cultural Studies

**General Education, Lifelong Learning

Total Units in the Minor: 18

Course List

AIS 101. Introduction to American Indian Studies (3)

Introduction to traditional and contemporary American Indian Cultures with an interdisciplinary approach to the history, social institutions, religion, literature, arts, and inter-ethnic relations of First People Nations. (Available for General Education, Comparative Cultural Studies)

AIS 301 First Peoples and Popular Culture (3)

The course introduces students to the misconceptions about First Peoples that have appeared in many avenues of popular culture, including literature, advertising, Hollywood cinema, New Age religions, and political debates. As a cultural studies course, it focuses on the representations of North American First Peoples in popular culture, the response to those representations, and the production of representations by First Peoples writers, poets, artists, and film makers (among others). (Available for General Education, Lifelong Learning)

AIS 304 American Indian Law and Policy (3)

Preparatory: AIS 101. Examines the impact of the multi-jurisdictional indigenous social control mechanisms on U.S. state and federal law and policies. Major focus is on the unique legal relationship that exists between Indian governments and state and federal governments. Issues including criminal justice, child welfare, education, gaming, health care, art, land ownership, religious and treaty rights are examined. (Available for General Education, Comparative Cultural Studies)

AIS 401. Contemporary American Indian Social Issues (3)

Focuses on First Peoples contemporary social issues and the relationship of those concerns to the surrounding society. While concerned with the histories and cultures of First Peoples, the main focus is on contemporary scenarios. American Indian experiences will be compared and contrasted with those of the dominate society and other racial and ethnic groups. The student will be exposed to American Indian world views, the unique sovereign status of American Indian nations, and social institutional explanations for cultural and political conflict with the dominant society. To facilitate these goals, during the semester each student will enter into a community partnership with an American Indian social group or formal organization in the larger Los Angeles area or on a reservation, reserve, or pueblo.

AIS 499A-C. Independent Study (1-3)