AMIND/POLS 331
AMERICAN INDIAN POLITICAL EXPERIENCE
Spring 2015
Devon Lee Lomayesva, Esq.
Class Schedule: Mondays 4-6:40 pm
Room: Student Services West (SSW) 2514
Office: Adams Humanities 4162/4163
Office Hours: By appointment - Mondays: 2:30-3:45 p.m.
Email: dlomayesva@mail.sdsu.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This class examines American Indian political experience from historical,
anthropological, legal and theoretical perspectives. This class explores the
impossibility of describing a singular, uniform American Indian political experience.
Instead, we will look at several different American Indian communities as case studies,
with an eye for similarities in experience due to European contact and common
historical occurrences. We will begin with our best understanding of pre-contact
political forms among indigenous North American communicates and then examine
the way contact, trade and external political relations with Europeans altered internal
political relations. Next, we will look at the rebirth and remaking of tribal political
forms – the conjoining of Euro-American political forms with “traditional” notions of
government after the massive disruption of imperialisms, intermittent warfare, and the
imposition of the reservation system. Finally, the class considers contemporary tribal
governments and challenges in the exercise of their sovereignty. We will think about
politics and power of self-governance in a relatively expansive way – the way in which
contemporary Native communities must think about politics. Here we will focus on
such issues as economic development, control of natural and cultural resources, and
cultural identity. The class will make special effort to include local San Diego and/or
California tribal experiences within the various stages of the American Indian political
experience referenced above.
Much of this class will rely on student participation and open discussion. It is
essential for each of you to come to class regularly and having read the assigned
material, and most importantly, be ready to participate in discussion. Your approach
to the class should be open minded, honest, and respectful; with an eye toward
thinking and learning beyond what knowledge you may have brought to the class.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Learning Objective 1. The successful student in the course will develop an
understanding of historical and contemporary decision-making processes in Native
communities.
Goal 1.1 – Students will be able to identify how traditional Native political
systems were maintained and how they supported leadership.
Goal 1.2 – Students will be able to identify and explain how economic
exchange with European colonists and European and American settlement changed
the fundamentals of Tribal leadership and political systems.
Goal 1.3 – Students will understand processes of Tribal nation building.
Goal 1.4 – Students will draw connections between traditional forms of Tribal
governance and modern day Tribal constitutions and legislative governments.
Learning Objective 2. Students will identify the forms and structures of American
Indian political relations.
Goal 2.1 – Students will distinguish the different political forms and structures
among various Tribal communities throughout the United States.
Goal 2.2 – Students will distinguish the way political relations operate
differently and in parallel fashion at the various levels of Tribal governments.
Goal 2.3 – Students will research and explain the history, form, and function of
a given Tribal constitution.
Learning Objective 3. Students will comprehend the concept of Tribal sovereignty.
Goal 3.1 – Students will be able to explain the Supreme Court rulings,
Constitutional law, and Federal legislation that created, effects, and maintains Tribal
sovereignty.
Goal 3.2 – Students will understand the relationship between Tribal
governments and federal governments and between Tribal governments and state
governments.
Goal 3.3 – Students will detail the connection between Tribal sovereignty and
successful Tribal self-governance.
REQUIRED READING
 Text: American Indian Politics and the American Political System, 3rd Ed.,
David E. Wilkins
 Blackboard Readings (“BB”), as assigned.
ASSIGNMENTS & GRADES
 Attendance and Participation
o See below
15%
 In-Class Presentation
10%
o All students will give a 5 minute presentation to the class on an article
they have selected from Indianz.com, turtletalk.wordpress.com,
Pechanga.net, Indian Country Today, or other website.
 Tribal Government Group Presentations
25%
o Each group will make a presentation about a current Tribal government
and a current issue that Tribe is addressing. More details will be provided
later in the semester. Groups will be chosen just before the Midterm
exam and presentations will be the last week of class.
 Midterm Exam
25%
o The Midterm will consist of a combination of identifications, shorts
answers and essay questions.
 Final Exam
25%
o The Final will consist of a 3-5 page paper. Topics will be assigned at least
two (2) weeks before they are due, including technical paper
requirements. The Final is due on the scheduled day of the class Final
Exam. Papers must be turned in by 4 p.m. this day to receive full credit.
No late papers will be accepted. Papers must be emailed to
dlomayesva@mail.sdsu.edu or on Blackboard Digital Drop Box.
ATTENDANCE & PARTICIPATION
Regular and timely attendance in class is expected. Your grade will be affected if you
have repeated unexcused absences or late arrivals. Please email me as far in advance as
possible if you know you will need to miss class or arrive late. Failure to attend 6 or
more classes/late arrivals of 15 minutes or more, may result in a “0” in your
“Attendance and Participation” grade.
BLACKBOARD & EMAIL
This class will utilize Blackboard to post readings, assignments, course materials, and
weblinks. We will also use other features of this tool that will be further discussed
during the first weeks of class. Please be sure to keep your email address updated with
the university and me. Email is my preferred method of communication and all
students are expected to check their SDSU email accounts regularly for class updates.
You can log into Blackboard at http://courses.sdsu.edu (You may encounter a
“Caution” message when accessing this site; you can simply hit “Proceed Anyway” to
continue to the sign-in for Blackboard).
ACADEMIC HONESTY
There will be no tolerance for cheating or plagiarism. Anyone determined to have
cheated or plagiarized any assignment will receive a failing grade and possible
additional consequences. If you have questions about SDSU’s policies on academic
honesty, please visit the website at http://www.sa.sdsu.edu/srr/cheatingplagiarism.html or see me directly.
LEARNING DISABILITIES
SDSU provides accommodations for students with learning disabilities. For assistance,
please see me or contact Student Disability Services at 619-594-6473 or visit their
website at http://go.sdsu.edu/student_affairs/sds.