ANTH 214 - Native American Traditions

Credits: 3
Lecture Contact Hours: 3
Description: This course provides a survey of Native American cultures from both Native and non-Native perspectives. Social, linguistic, and spiritual traditions from diverse culture areas are examined. The course focuses on pre-Columbian traditions, highlighting cultural change and adaptations to regional environments. Topics such as how humans first migrated to the Americas, contact with non-Native populations, the impact of federal government policies, and important current issues for indigenous communities are also included.

Prerequisites: None.
Corequisites: None.
Recommended: None.

Course Category: Liberal Arts | Social Science
This course counts toward Schoolcraft’s General Education Requirements.
This course counts toward a Michigan Transfer Agreement General Education Requirement.

This Course is Typically Offered: Winter Only
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Course Competencies

Apply the four subfields of anthropology (archaeology, cultural anthropology, linguistics, and biological anthropology) to the study of Native Americans.
Illustrate ethnocentric bias and examples of cultural relativism.
Summarize the concepts of culture, culture as adaption and culture area.
Explain archaeological theories of migration and Native origin stories.
Compare etic and emic perspectives on Native American cultures.
Outline the impact of key U. S. government policies on Native American communities.
Summarize changes in Native American cultures in response to contact with non-Native populations.
Explain how social, economic, political, and spiritual traditions vary by culture area.
Illustrate current issues important to Native American communities.