Indigenous Imperative: Native Thought and its Implications for Our Future

Location: University of Minnesota Ford Hall Room 170

The premise of course is that our future is not only ecological but indigenous. We will be looking at not only the Six Nations Confederacy, but several other cultural and political powers in the western hemisphere including the Hopi, the Ojibway, the Inca, the Maya, Aztecs and many others. One of the goals of this course will be to not only push the envelope but get rid of the envelope. No discussion of our problems or potentials is possible without our indigenous center. Forget casino gambling, fry bread, pow wows, Sherman Alexie's cynical novels, and all of the other caricatures of first nations people. Rather we are going to vigorously look at the loose medicine bundle of values and cultures which evolved on this continent called sacred turtle island. We will advocate for a robust restoration of native teachings.

NOTE: Ray does not use email all that much so if you want to get in touch with him
before the class please call.