Indigeneity, Race, and Ethnicity Studies 201-A: ST: Intro to Tribal Policy in American Indian Nations

This course will provide an introduction to and overview of tribal policy, law, and politics in American Indian nations, and provide an opportunity for Whitman students to learn about Indigenous politics, institutional operations, culture, practice, and lifeways from an Indigenous instructor in Indigenous territory. The course will center the experience of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), placed within a broader context of American Indian nations and global Indigeneity. CTUIR stands out among Indigenous Nations as a leader in developing an institutional structure dedicated to restoring and promoting the resiliency of their First Foods, which is tied to the exercise of sovereignty and promotion of community health. Students will learn about the effects of policies such as the Allotment Act as well as visiting allotted lands and meeting with people who directly experienced the act. This course will be co-taught by Althea Huesties-Wolf and Stan Thayne. Classes will be held at Whitman College on Tuesdays and at the Umatilla Indian Reservation (UIR) on Thursdays. Whitman College students will be bussed from Whitman Campus to the UIR. Distribution area: Cultural Pluralism.