HIST 578: Global Indigenous History

Global Indigenous History

This is a rare opportunity to study Indigenous histories from around the world and learn how Indigenous contributions have transformed our modern world. Students enrolled in Global Indigenous History gain insight into systems of colonization, international law, treaty & human rights, citizenship, nationalism, globalization, community & nation building, sovereignty, environmental justice, and cultural revitalization. Classes engage in lively lectures and discussions as well as readings that grapple with the complex histories of over 400 million contemporary Indigenous peoples. Crisscrossing the globe, students will explore the histories of Ancient Mayan and Incan empires as well as the modern Zapatista movement; Red Power and Idle No More movements; Maori (Aotearoa) and Aboriginal (Australian) liberation movements; Tibetan independence and Ghandi’s Satyagraha; Irish and Scottish devolution; and the Indigenous roots of contemporary conflicts in Africa and the Middle East—just to name a few. Finally, students will gain a rich appreciation for diverse societies, cultures, economies, and politics that define Global Indigenous History.