Native American Studies (NAMS)

NAMS 8066  FIRST NATIONS: SPIRIT IN ARTS AND CULTURES (3 credits)

First Nations: Spirit in Arts and Cultures explores how contemporary Indigenous/Native (First Nations, Metis and Inuit) artists in the lands now known as Canada express their cultures, especially beliefs, through the fine arts. While we will focus on visual culture (sculpture, painting, film, mixed media), literary works (a novel, poetry) and music will also be included. First Nations, Metis and Inuit artists often simultaneously express traditions, their own experiences, and reflections on the present and past through their work. By doing this, they share valuable perspectives on health and healing as well as the national process of Truth and Reconciliation. Trying, so much as possible, to let the artists speak for themselves, we will explore how spirituality manifests itself in contemporary cultures for these Indigenous artists north of the border. (Cross-listed with RELI 4060, RELI 8066, NAMS 4060).

Prerequisite(s): Graduate student status

NAMS 8276  DECOLONIZING NATIVE AMERICAN HEALTH (3 credits)

This course will utilize an interdisciplinary lens to interrogate Native American health and wellness grounded in the decolonizing theoretical and methodological tools drawn from Medical Anthropology and Native American Studies. Topics covered will include: Health Disparities, Federal Indian Health Policy, Historical Trauma, Medical Mistrust, Traditional Healing, Food Sovereignty and Research Ethics. (Cross-listed with ANTH 8276, ANTH 4270, NAMS 4270).