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How does
the new curriculum differ from other native studies courses?
The Indigenous Studies degree at IAIA will not attempt to teach
systematic surveys of the many tribal histories and cultures.
Instead, it will explore a range of issues central to the social,
political and cultural progress of native peoples. It will offer
a new answer to the question: what is the best college-level,
general education for Native American students? Oral narratives
and visual thinking will be integrated with mainstream theoretical
approaches. A range of indigenous methodologies for structuring
knowledge and for knowledge preservation and transmission will
be reevaluated in order to throw light on how native peoples view
the world and how other cultures understand and mis-understand
indigenous perspectives. The relationship of culture and development
will be another major focus. The teaching materials are also set
apart from standard American Indian Studies courses in that the
visual and performative arts (the traditional strength of IAIA
teaching) will be used as a springboard to investigate a variety
of native issues. For example, issues of land rights, bio-diversity,
and intellectual property may be clarified by treating painting,
maps, medical ritual, song, story and dance as knowledge texts.
Finally, the viewpoint will be globally indigenous rather than
simply North American in perspective. At the same time, the methods
of teaching and approaches to the material will be aligned with
the traditional aims of American Indian education, including mentoring,
reciprocity, commitment to community service, and a respect for
individual, cultural and ecological diversity.
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