Courses
Search for courses listed in this bulletin. To find a semester course schedule (including instructors, meeting times and locations), go to mynmu.nmu.edu.
- Offered: Fall
This freshmen seminar will give students an introduction to Northern Michigan University as well as an introduction to the discipline of Native American studies and the federally recognized tribes of Michigan. The course will utilize both the Anishinaabe medicine wheel model and the five primary themes of Native American studies as the course framework.
Notes:Transfer students seeking a NAS major or late add-on NAS majors may substitute another two-credit NAS course in place of this freshmen seminar with the approval of the CNAS Faculty Affairs curriculum subcommittee.
- Offered: Fall
- Offered: Winter
- Prerequisites: NAS 101 or equivalent.
- Offered: Fall Winter Summer
- Offered: Fall Winter Summer
The skills necessary for speaking Anishinaabe through experiential opportunities, cultural outdoor activities as well as classroom activity and group work during fall, winter or spring experiences that emphasize indigenous traditional knowledge.
Notes:May be repeated once for each season. 207a – fall, 207b – winter, 207c –spring.
- Offered: Fall Winter of odd years and occasionally summer
An examination of the twenty-three federally recognized tribes of Michigan and Wisconsin and how treaties with the federal government shaped their history and contemporary political make-up. Treaty rights, sovereignty, urban communities and tribal enterprises will also be explored.
- Offered: Winter
An introductionto Native American beadwork styles from various regions and time periods. The course blends reading and lecture with practical application of Native American beadwork. Content includes American Indian arts and crafts law.
- Offered: Winter
- Offered: Winter
- Offered: Winter
- Offered: Contact department for information
- Offered: On demand
All directed studies must be pre-approved.
- Offered: Fall Winter
- Prerequisites: EN 211 with a grade of "C" or better or HON 101 and HON 111 and sophomore standing.
A focus on the relationship between American Indian tribes, the federal government and states. Emphasis is placed on examining the current state of tribal governments and tribal citizens within the State of Michigan. Students will examine the U.S. Constitution, treaties and tribals [tribes], federal and state laws and court cases.
- Offered: Winter
The history of the initiation, development, alteration and demise of the federally mandated Indian boarding school education experience in the U.S. and Canada. Intergenerational and contemporary repercussions, both positive and negative, within indigenous societies are considered.
- Offered: Fall alternate years
An analysis of the identity and images of American Indians portrayed within the historic and contemporary media. Perpetuation of stereotypes and appropriate or distorted cultural images, symbols, beliefs, stories and contributions by native people to the media will be explored.
- Offered: Winter
- Offered: Summer
Kinomaage, when translated, is "Earth shows us the way." Students will examine various plants of the Northwoods that have been traditionally used by the Anishinaabeg. Students will also examine the close relationship between Anishinaabeg [Anishinaabe] peoples, culture and the Earth while comparing that relationship to modern day society's view of the environment.
- Offered: Winter
- Offered: Fall
- Prerequisites: NAS 204.
Indigenous critical analysis is rooted in place-based First Nations/Native American/Indigenous belief systems focusing on the interconnectedness of communities and culture, and confronts historic and contemporary acts of colonialism that has led to systematic marginalization. This course will explore Indigenous critical thought and Indigenous critical theory as independent and necessary scholarship through varied texts.
- Offered: Contact Department
Focus on issues, topics affecting first nations women of yesterday and today. Notable first nations women will be explored along with multiple concepts including: relationships within tribal communities, spiritual health and survival of tribal nations.
- Offered: Contact department
Through films, poems, essays, music lyrics, plays, political cartoons, personal memoir and short stories American Indian Humor studies the balance struck between amusing traits and solemn aspects why joking and comedy are so vital to North American indigenes.
- Offered: Contact department
- Prerequisites:
NAS 204 and NAS 224.
(NAS 224 may be waived by the instructor should both knowledge of NAS primary themes and skill to create bead work be demonstrated).
Students will investigate the relationship between indigenous artists and contemporary indigenous social justice movements in the United States and Canada through the analysis of indigenous art forms and representation as well as the skill and practice of creating visual rhetoric through beadwork.
- Offered: Fall
- Offered: Winter
- Offered: Contact Department
Unique legal educational leadership relationships between American Indian tribes, federal, and state governments and k-12 schools are explored. Content includes aboriginal and treaty rights to education, federal and state Indian education laws, and contemporary tribal laws regarding American Indian education.