Comparative Diasporas I:  Indigenous Perspectives

HIS 150

(Proposed course for Seattle Central Community College)

 

SYLLABUS

 

Instructor:  Tracy Lai, History

Office:  room 4132

Office hours:  as scheduled during a given quarter and by appointment

Office phone:  (206) 587-6958 (accepts voice mail messages)

e-mail:  tralai@sccd.ctc.edu (please identify yourself/course in subject line)

 

Credits:  5                  

Lecture Hours:  5                  

Lab Hours:  0

Meeting Times:  MWF 11:00-12:20              

Prerequisites:  ENG 101 eligibility

 

Course Description:  This course surveys the diasporas of indigenous peoples throughout the Americas and the Pacific.  By focusing on selected groups such as native Hawaiians, Samoans, Chamorros, Iroquois, Navajo, Cherokee and Northwest Coast Indians, students can compare the migrations in political, economic, social and historical contexts from comparative perspectives.

 

Course Purpose:

•    to strengthen critical thinking skills in oral and written discourse;

•    to actively engage in learning activities including research, reading, writing, discussion and collaboration;

•    to examine through selected case studies how dependent relationships are cultivated and reinforced;

•    to increase knowledge of how movements for autonomy and independence are organized and sustained;

•    to connect the historical themes to contemporary issues;

•    to emphasize the scholarship and voices from the communities being studied;

•    to compare, contrast and relate experiences of indigenous peoples from pre-contact to the current era of globalization.

 

Program Outcomes for History:

•    to distinguish and appropriately use primary and secondary historical materials;

•    to write history research essays using Turabian style for footnotes and bibliography;

•    to organize notetaking from lecture, film/video, seminar discussion and research;

•    to discuss historical subjects in an informed, substantive, collegial manner;

•    to summarize and synthesize a variety of materials in short answer and short essay in-class writing;

•    to develop collaborative skills in group activities such as in seminar, presentations and other projects.

 

Americans with Disability Act:  If you need course adaptations or accommodation because of a disability, if you have emergency medical information to share with your instructor, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with your instructor as soon as possible.

 

 

Student Outcomes:

•    to increase knowledge regarding the comparative diasporas of indigenous peoples, past and present;

•    to enhance critical thinking skills in oral and written discourse;

•    to strengthen intercultural communication skills through practice, feedback and structured, evaluated activities;

•    to build global competencies specifically in the following areas:  increasing understanding of different political and economic systems while acknowledging economic interdependence; realizing that challenges facing our world cannot be solved by the same kind of thinking and actions that created them and recognizing that one's own culture, religion, and values are not universally shared.

 

Methods of Instruction:

This class relies upon collaboration among class members and inquiry as a process for developing historical understanding.  Class schedule will include 2-3 lecture/discussions which address the themes and texts.  Other sessions will involve videos, small group activities, field trips, and guest speakers.

 

Textbooks for purchase at SCCC Bookstore:

Carter, Lee D., Ed.  Guam History:  Perspectives.  University of Guam, 1997.

Churchill, Ward.  A Little Matter of Genocide:  Holocaust and Denial in the

            Americas 1492 to the Present.  City Light Books, 1998.

Dougherty, Michael.  To Steal a Kingdom.  Island Style Press, 1992.

Perdue, Theda and Michael D. Green, Eds.  The Cherokee Removal:  A Brief History

            with Documents.  Bedford Books, 1995.

 

Supplementary Reading in library and/or excerpted for individual use in Reader for purchase:

Archuleta, Margaret. Ed.  Away from Home:  American Indian Boarding School

            Experiences.  Heard Museum Shop, 2000.

Brandao, Jose Antonio.  Your Fyre Shall Burn No More:  Iroquois Policy Toward

            New France and its Native Allies to 1701.  Bison Books Corporation, 2000.

Brugge, David M.  The Navajo-Hopi Land Dispute:  An American Tragedy.

            University of New Mexico Press, 1999.

Chappell, David A.  Double Ghosts -- Oceanian Voyagers on Euroamerican Ships.

            M. E. Sharpe, 1997.

Davidson, Art.  Endangered Peoples.  Sierra Club Books, 1993.

Daws, Gavan.  Shoal of Time, a History of the Hawaiian Islands.  University of

            Hawai'i Press, 1989.

Dudley, Michael Kioni and Keoni Kealoha Agard.  Call for Hawaiian Sovereignty.

            Na Kane O Ka Malo Press, 1993 (reprint).

Galliard Frye, Carolyn Demeritt and Vine Deloria.  As Long as the Waters Flow:

            Native Americans in the South and the East.  John F. Blair Pub., 1998.

Goodman, James.  The Navajo Atlas:  Environments, Resources, Peoples and

            History of the Dine Bekeyah.  University of Oklahoma Press, 1987.

Harmon, Alexandra.  Indians in the Making:  Ethnic Relations and Indian Identities

            Around Puget Sound.  University of California Press, 1998.

Hauptman, Laurence M.  Conspiracy of Interests:  Iroquois Dispossession and the

            Rise of New York State.  Syracuse University Press, 1999.

Hereniko, Vilsoni.  South Pacific Islanders.  Rourke Publications, 1987.

Jahoda, Gloria.  The Trail of Tears.  Wings Press, 1995 (reprint).

Kemf, Elizabeth, Ed.  The Law of the Mother:  Protecting Indigenous Peoples in

            Protected Areas.  Sierra Club Books, 1993. 

Klein, Laura and Lillian Ackerman, Eds.  Women and Power in Native North

            America.  University of Oklahoma Press, 2000.

Kluge, P. F. The Edge of Paradise:  America in Micronesia.  Random House, 1991.

Koppel, Tom.  Kanaka:  the Untold Story of Hawaiian Pioneers in British Columbia

            and the Pacific Northwest.  Whitecap Books, 1995.

Kramer, Augustin.  Theodore Verthaaren (Translator).  The Samoan Islands:  an

            Outline of a Monograph with Particular Consideration of German Samoa:

            Constitution, Pedigrees and Traditions.  University of Hawai'i Press, 2000.

Liliu'okalani.  Hawai'i's Story by Hawai'i's Queen.  Charles E. Tuttle, 1991 (reissue).

Lytle, Clifford M. and Vine Deloria, Jr.  The Nation Within:  the Past and Future of

            American Indian Sovereignty.  University of Texas Press, 1998 (reissue).

Niezen, Ronald.  Spirit Wars:  Native North American Religions in the Age of

            Nation Building.  University of California Press, 2000.

Perdue, Theda.  Cherokee Women:  Gender and Culture Change, 1700-1835.

            University of Nebraska, 1999.

Richter, Daniel K.  The Ordeal of the Longhouse:  Peoples of the Iroquois League in

            the Era of European Colonization.  Omohundro Institute of Early American

            History, 1993.

Rogers, Robert F.  Destiny's Landfall:  A History of Guam.  University of Hawai'i

            Press, 1995.

Shoemaker, Nancy.  Negotiators of Change:  Historical Perspectives on Native

            America Women.  Routledge, 1995.

Souder, Laura Marie Torres.  Daughters of the Island:  Contemporary Chamorro

            Women Organizers on Guam.  2nd Edition.  University Press of America,

            1992.

Stannard David E.  American Holocaust -- the Conquest of the New World.  Oxford

            University Press, 1992.

Wilkenson, Charles.  Fire on the Plateau:  Conflict and Endurance in the American

            Southwest.  Island Press, 1999.

Willens, Howard P. and Deanne C. Siemer.  National Security and Self-Determination,

U.S. Policy in Micronesia, 1961-72.  Praeger Publisher, 2000.

Wright J. Leitch and James Merrell.  The Only Land They Knew:  American Indians

            in the Old South.  Bison Books Corp., 1999.

 

 

Films:

Stolen Waters.  Producer:  Na Maka O Ka'Aina.  1996.

Tatau:  What One Must Do.  Producer/Director:  Micah Van Der Ryn.  1996.

The Voyage Home:  Hawai'iloa's Northwest Voyage.  Producer:  Williams

            Communications.  1996.

Chamoru Dreams.  Producer, Eric Tydingco.  1995.

Storytellers of the Pacific.  Program #1 Identity.  Program #2 Self-Determination.

            Lucerne Media.

Kinaalda:  A Navajo Rite of Passage.  Lucerne Media.

 

Additional Resources:

Pacific Studies Initiative (1997-98), East-West Center and Center for Pacific Island Studies is interested in coordinating a film festival and speakers tour to be hosted at Seattle Central Community College.

 

Required Materials:

books and reading materials as assigned

notetaking materials

internet access

binder/folder to organize course materials

 

Student Assignments (separate handouts to describe each):

Weekly reading assignments and seminar journals

Two in-class exams including short answer concepts/terms and short essay

One collaborative project with research paper and presentation components

Mid and Final Self-Assessment essays

Course evaluation

"Exit" notes as appropriate

Peer evaluations and feedback

 

Tentative Weekly Schedule of Assignments:

Weekly reading assignments and seminar journal writing; Films/Guests TBA

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3:  Project Proposals

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6:  Exam I

Week 7:  Project Progress Reports; Mid quarter Self-Evaluation

Week 8

Week 9:  Project Progress Reports

Week 10:  Final Self-Evaluation and Course Evaluation

Week 11:  Student Presentations and Research Essays due

Finals Week:  Exam II

 

Learning Resources:

•    Student Assistance Center offers free workshops on study and college survival skills.  Room 1106, 587-3852.

•    SCCC Library has excellent reference librarians.  Even if our library does not have the source you are looking for, you may be able to borrow through inter-library loan or go to a different library.  The electronic databases also give you a broad range of resources.  Room 2101.

•    College-Wide Tutoring System is a free program which can assist in many subjects, including writing and speech.  Room 2103.  Sign up first at Student Assistance Center.

•    Form study groups with your classmates.  Research and review together saves time and helps to clarify your understanding.

•    Seattle Public Library, King County Libraries and University of Washington Suzzallo Library have excellent reference librarians.  You do not need a UW student ID to use materials in the library.  Seattle Public and King County Libraries  issue free borrower cards.

•    If you have paid the technology fee, Student Computing Center offers short courses on computer use,  individual tutoring, reserved use of computers and student e-mail accounts.

•    Sample papers on reserve in library and in Seattle Central Community College Journal of History.

 

Course Policies:

•    Make every effort to be here everyday on time.  This is not a correspondence course. Please inform the instructor of illness/emergencies.  Continual absences will result in a lowered gradepoint.

•    There is no extra credit.

•    Late work accepted only by prior consultation with instructor.

•    Grading:  see separate handouts for requirements of individual assignments.  Below is a continuum of basic characteristics as related to final gradepoints. 

 

These descriptions are examples meant to help you achieve the gradepoint that you are working towards.

 

Barely Passing .7 (D-) - 1.4 (D+)	Passing/Average 1.5 (C-) - 2.4 (C+)
Misses class often.	Misses Class.
Does not complete assignments.	Completes assignments perfunctorily.
Inattentive/non participatory in class.	Pays attention in class.
Never takes notes on lectures/films.	Takes some notes on lectures/films.
Does not talk with or know instructor.	Knows who instructor is.
Writes in simple, descriptive sentences.	Writes in descriptive sentences showing some reading/listening comprehension.

 

Above Average 2.5 (B-) - 3.4 (B+)	Outstanding 3.5 (A-) - 4.0 (A)
Misses class occasionally.	Rarely misses class.
Completes assignments fully.	Completes assignments with high standards and quality.
Contributes to class discussion occasionally.  Tries to collaborate with class members.	Actively involved in class without dominating large or small group discussions.  Collaborates well.
Takes notes on lectures/films.	Takes notes on readings, lectures, films, discussions and keeps organized in folder/notebook.
Talks with/e-mails instructor as needed.	Communicates frequently with instructor.
Writes with organization and focus, reflects good grasp of course materials and original thought.	Revises writing for mechanics, style, content. Writing demonstrates research, synthesis, connections and original thought.

 

Grades & Assignments:  Grades will be based on evaluation of 4 areas.  The percentage of the final gradepoint is indicated in parentheses.

 

Seminar Journal (20%)	Participation  (25%)	Research Project (20%)	2 Exams (35%)
weekly entries addressing readings and discussions:  tracks development of seminar participation	mid & final self-evaluations,       informed and consistent participation ,  peer feedback	Research project & presentation (see handout for details)	in-class exams which reflect synthesis, analysis  grounded in course concepts/          materials