ETHNOHISTORICAL APPROACHES
TO NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURES

Mandan Indian Village: George Catlin

ANT 469
FR. BUCKO, S.J.
Course Schedule
Time: M W 3:30 - 4:45 PM

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course deals with the history and cultures of native North Americans. Our approach is ethnohistorical, combining the disciplines of history and anthropology to obtain multiple perspectives on the interactions between native and non-native peoples. We will explore native cultures from the time of contact to the present as presented through history, anthropology, literature and film. We will critique the production of this information, examining the cultural presuppositions of its dominant producers and consumers, European-American. At the same time, we will examine the literary and historical production of native people themselves and the critiques native peoples offer of both anthropology and history as produced by the dominant society.

In light of our ethnohistorical study, we will then examine images of native Americans, produced in part by historiography and anthropology, and in part by the popular imagination, all of which have been expressed through various media. The focus will be on both the effects of these images and the current debate over who is privileged to create, appropriate, and perpetuate these images as native peoples struggle to control their own images. We will examine concrete expression of this struggle through contemporary movements such as repatriation of human remains and tribal properties, the appropriateness of museum exhibits, and the colonization of native cultural and religious traditions.

The result of this course will be a graduate level research paper, carefully researched and written, which hopefully will be a helpful part of the student's professional portfolio. The course is geared to introduce advanced research techniques in dealing with primary souces as well as guidance in writing and structuring scholarly investigation.

COURSE GOALS:

The course is aimed at understanding and appreciating Native cultures both as historical and contemporary phenomena. Students not only grow to understand how scholars use oral tradition, anthropology, archaeology and western historiography to reconstruct the past but also they are challenged to understand contemporary Native life and such crucial issues as sovereignty and cultural property in light of the past.

The course is designed to promote the Boasian perspective of cultural relativism, teaching students cultural tolerance by studying non-Western cultures in-depth using the internal criteria specific to those cultures. The course also shows the too often tragic consequences of Western colonialism in the "New World" while also presenting Native peoples as agents active in creating and shaping their own histories and cultural circumstances, often against overwhelming odds.

Obviously in looking at Native history and culture the student is compelled to examine Western cultural institutions and how they also have been transformed through cultural contact with other cultures.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:

Students are required to adhere to the requirements of integrity as outlined in the Creighton University Creighton College of Arts & Sciences Committee on Academic Policy, Discipline, and Appeals. Students are expected to interact with each other in a way which will enhance the learning experience of all and which is never destructive of other pesons. Because of the importance of acknowledged collaboration, students are required to cite all assistance, including that gained from peers. Students must never plagiarize. The professor maintains an audit policy for this course to both reward extraordinary performance and to guard against misuse of sources. Infringements of academic will be delt with according to Creighton University norms.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

1. Attendance: Because this is a seminar class attendance and participation are vital to the success of each presentation.
2. Active class participation: This will require you to read the texts and answer pertinent questions BEFORE each class.
3. Class presentations: A team of students will present the readings for each class, express their own views, and facilitate discussion. Each of the groups' performances will be graded using specific criteria.
4. Regular electronic contact: You are expected to read your e-mail at least every other day and respond when appropriate. You are also expected to participate in our list discussion. To write a message to the list use the address: ant463@creighton.edu
5. A midterm paper in progress: Your midterm paper is the submission of your work in progress. By midterm you should have the paper roughed out, fairly well researched (with notes on what books are on interlibrary loan), and at least partly written in rough draft with notes on sections you yet need to amplify.
6. A seminar paper: Each student will present a final research paper on some topic which she or he wishes to pursue. The paper will be at least 15 - 20 full pages in length. The paper must utilize theoretical perspectives taken in class. This papers is subject to audit according to the audit policy. A significant part of this class is devoted to the techniques of writing graduate level research papers. The final paper must conatin your working definition of ethnohisory, information on how ethnohistory has informed your research strategy, methodology and conclusions, and a clear statement identifying and evaluating the primary source(s) on which you will build your research. Hickerson and DeMallie are the best model for this procedure of all the works we have covered this semester.
7. Final seminar presentation: Each student will present his or her paper to the class at the end of the semester.

COURSE TEXTS:

These required texts can be obtained through the bookstore:

• Deloria, Ella Waterlily
• Ewers, John Canfield The Horse in Blackfoot Indian Culture
• Hickerson, Harold The Chippewa and their Neighbors
• Rohner, Ronald and Evelyn Bettauer The Kwakiutl
• Spicer, Edward A Short History of the Indians of the United States
  
  
• Early Encounters in North America, Alexanderstreet Press

OTHER REQUIRED READINGS:

All assigned readings, if not from the required textbooks, are on reserve in the Library. Please contact Fr. Bucko immediately if you have any trouble locating the material.

GRADING:

Grades will be determined in the following manner:

• Participation 25%
• Seminar Presentations 25%
• Final Paper 50%

Letter Grades are Awarded as Follows:

A	100 - 89
B+	88 - 85
B	84 - 80
C+	79 - 75
C	74 - 70
D	69 - 65
F	Below 65

WRITING SCHEDULE:

We will carefully observe the following schedule for producing the final seminar paper. Note that there are no deadline extensions and that there is a 1/2 grade penalty for each 12 hours (or part) that the paper is late. Each paper must be submitted electronically before the class period and a paper copy of the paper submitted at that class period. Penalties begin incuring the hour the class begins.

• January 21, 2002 :Propose a Research Topic
  
• January 30, 2002 : Formulate research topic, begin archival research-- submit formal 2 page propsal
  
• February 13, 2002: First Paper Exchange: students edit and critique each other's papers in pairs


• February 20, 2002: Submit First Draft (10 page minimum)


• March 27, 2002: Second Draft (15 paper minimum)


• April 8, 2002: Second Paper Exchange: students edit and critique each other's papers in pairs


• April 17, 2002: Third Draft (Full Paper)


• May 6, 2002: Final Submission of Paper


• Classess 23 - 29: Students present their papers in a seminar forum. Students and professor are responsible for responding to the paper and critiquing the work for final submission.


• Classes 29: All papers are due EXCEPT for the last two presentation groups. Each has 7 calendar days from her/his presentation to submit the final paper

PAPER SUBMISSION:

For each of the writing assignments this semester you are required to submit both a hard copy of the paper and a digital copy which you will upload to the proper folder on the BSCW. I do this for two reasons: 1) I link examples of outstanding papers to the course page for the rest of the class to read provided I have the permission of the authors; 2) I maintain a digital database of previous papers to ensure that there is no plagiarism in this assignment either among classmates or from year to year. On each of your papers you are requeired to provide the following information: Name, Course Number (ANT/NAS 469), File Type (Microstoft Word 2000, Word Perfect 5.1 etc.). If you are using a MAC or Microsoft Works please save your paper in Rich Text Fromat (RTF) before uploading it to the BSCW. You do not have to digitally submit ancillary materials such as field notes unless you wish to do so. If you are not technologically inclined I am most willing to help you provided you come for office hours well in advance of the due date for the first paper, preferably in the first two weeks of the semester. If there is a suspicion of plagiarism I will utilize copyfind to susbtantiate or disprove the suspicion.

SPECIAL NEEDS:

If you have any special learning needs or are in circumstances which necessitate special consideration, please contact me at the beginning of the semester. If you have a documented disability and will to discuss academic accommodations, please contact me within the first week of class or as soon as possible.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

FR. BUCKO, S.J.
Office: Admin Bldg 433

Office Hours (please sign for an appointment on my door):
Monday: 9:30 - 11:00 AM
Tuesday: 7:00 - 10:00 AM
Wednesday: 2:30 - 3:30 PM
and by appointment

Phone:
OFFICE EX 3587
HOME EX 3115 (do not call after 9:00 PM)

E-mail Address: bucko@creighton.edu
Mail for Fr. Bucko E-Mail Check: Monday 7:00 AM, Thursday 7:00 AM [Omaha Time]

COURSE LECTURES AND READINGS:

Please refer to the Course Schedule for a listing of required readings and assignments.

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This page is managed by Rev. Raymond A. Bucko, S.J. of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Creighton University. E-Mail: bucko@creighton.edu Page Last Updated: February 25, 2002

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