First Nations: A History of Indigenous Peoples of the Americas

This course provides an introduction to the history of the First Peoples, a diverse range of tribal communities indigenous to the North and South American continents. Students will consider the varied societies and cultures of Native Peoples long established before European colonists arrived in the hemisphere. After examining their origins and several civilizations in North America, Mesoamerica, and South America, students will then study the challenges posed by the arrival of European colonists and later the conflicts resulting from forced migration and reservation policies imposed by the United States government. In the second half of the course, students will especially focus on the relationship between the United States and the First Peoples, particularly as it has been understood by members of Indigenous Tribes in their struggles to preserve their lands, sovereignty, and cultural identity.