RE 215 – Native American Religious Traditions
Spring 2009
Instructor: Dr. Ivory L. Lyons, Jr.
Meeting Times: 11 - 11:50 T, Th
Home: 2333 S. Arch Ave., Alliance
Meeting Place: Bracey 21
Home Phone: (330) 823-6773
Office: Keener House Office 1
Email: lyonsil@muc.edu
Office Phone: (330) 823-2469
ivory_lyons@yahoo.com
Office Hours
M, W 9:00 -11:00 am in my office and M, W 2:00 - 3:00 pm at Campus Grounds or by
appointment or whenever I am in the office. You can also meet me "outside" office
hours on campus in a more casual atmosphere.
Texts:
Native American Religions by Sam Gill
The Fourth World of the Hopis by Harold Courlander
The Book of the Navajo by Raymond Friday Locke
Course Objective: This course is designed to introduce you to some of the major ideas
and concepts present in Native American religious traditions. Because of the vastness
of the traditions, we will only study 3 traditions in some depth: Hopi, Navajo and the
Sioux. At the end of the course, you will have increased your awareness of the
important elements Native American religions—their myths, symbols, rituals, doctrines,
moral codes, and artistic expressions.
Policies
Attendance: Those who attend all classes generally perform well. Those who do not
generally do not do very well. Each student will be allowed 2 absences (excused or
unexcused). If a student is absent more than 2 times he or she will lose 10 points for
each absence (excused or unexcused). More than 7 absences will result in a failing
grade for the class.
Academic Honesty: It is expected that you will do you own work and will cite all sources
used for your paper or presentation. Any student caught submitting someone else’s
work as his or her own will be in jeopardy of failing the class. See MUC Catalogue for
further details.
Syllabus Changes: The instructor reserves the right to change the syllabus as
necessary.
Grading Policy
Assignments
1. Exams
There will be two essay exams worth 100 points each. These exams will be
comprehensive in scope and will test the student’s ability to remember and integrate
class material. (200 points)
2. Quizzes
There will be 8 quizzes worth 10 points each. The quizzes will test the student’s
understanding of the reading and will be on general information contained in the
reading. (80 points)
3. MLK Program
Each student will be required to attend one MLK event and write a 2 page reflection on
the significance of the event for a course on Native American religious traditions. (20
points)
4. Research Paper
Each student will be required to write a 10 – 12 page research paper on any topic in
Native American religious tradition. The student is to use at least four different sources,
one of which must be either a book or journal article. Each student is expected to use
Chicago/Turabian or MLA citation style. (100 points)
5. Out-of-class visit or virtual tour
Each student will be required to visit a Native American site or take a virtual tour of a
Native American site. The site can be a museum, a cultural center, a church, a site
where a lecture a panel discussion takes place or some other place. The student can
also visit a web site and take a virtual tour of the website. The student will also be
required to write a four page summary of the experience (this is much like the site visit
paper from my other classes). (100 points)
Assignments 4 and 5 have been modified into one assignment and it is worth 100
points.
6. Class presentation
Each student will be required to present an idea or lead a class discussion of an idea
based on the reading. The student will not be responsible for the whole class time.
However, the student will be responsible for initiating a class discussion based on the
reading. The student could think of ways to generate discussion; the student can pose
some thought provoking questions for the rest of the class or the student could simply
elaborate on ideas that he thought were important. (20 points)
Submission: All writing assignments with the exception of in class exams and essays,
are to be double-spaced, 10, 11 or 12 pitch easily readable font. All of the assignments,
unless otherwise stated, will be put in a drop box in ANGEL in Microsoft Word, RTF or
Text format on or before the due date. Papers put in the drop box after the date may or
may not be accepted. If they are graded they will be reduced by one full letter grade.
Attached are grading standards for writing.
Extra Credit
There will be extra credit opportunities throughout the semester. Each extra credit
assignment will be worth no more than 10 points unless otherwise designated. In order
to get extra credit the student must do all of the regular assignments.
Total possible points: 500 (The point total will be modified to reflect change in
assignments)
A
500 - 470
B+ 449 - 435
C+ 399 - 385
D+ 349 - 335
F < 315
AB
C
D
469 - 450
434 - 420
384 - 370
334 - 315
B- 419 - 400
C- 369 - 350
January 12
Introduction: Syllabus, course expectations
Maps and Territories
Native American Religions – Chapter 1
January 20
The Place to Begin
NAR – Chapter 2
January 26
Orality and Native American Traditions
NAR – Chapter 3
February 2
Action and Performance
Clowns
Student Pres. - Masks
Student Pres. - Clowns
NAR – Chapter 4
February 9
Roads of Life
Birthing and Naming
Hopi - Disenchantment
Vision Quest
Student Pres. – Health and Healing
Student Pres. – Birthing and Naming
Student Pres. – Vision Quest
Ways of Life
NAR – Chapters 5, 6
February 16
Exam 1
February 23
The Hopi
The Myths: The Creation of the Four Worlds
The Fourth World of the Hopis – Chapters I – IV
Student Pres. – Four Worlds of the Hopi
March 2
The Legends of the Clans
Student Pres. – Legends
The 4th World – chs. V - IX
March 16
The Mystery Plays: The Ceremonial Cycle
Student Pres. – Ceremonial & Mystery Plays
The 4th World – chs. X - XIV
March 23
More Clans
The 4th World – chs. XV - XX
March 30
The Navajo
Dineh: The People
The Book of the Navajo – Part 1
Student Pres. – The World
April 6
Navajo Legends
Student Pres. – Navajo Legends
BoN – Part 2
April 13
Strangers in the Land
Student Pres. – Changing Woman
BoN – Part 3
April 20
The Burning Ground
BoN – Part 4
April 27
Last Class
Final Exam
April 29th, 8 – 11 am
A Video Source
The image is from http://eagle.kachina.us/index.htm