AMIND 110: American Indian Heritage
Fall 2021
Tuesday and Thursday
12:30-1:45
Instructor: Kenneth Dyer-Redner
Email: kdyerredner@sdsu.edu
Office: AL-286
Office Hours: Mon./Wed.: 11:00-12:30 (or by appt.)
SDSU LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
We stand upon a land that carries the footsteps of millennia of Kumeyaay people. They are a
people whose traditional lifeways intertwine with a worldview of earth and sky in a community
of living beings. This land is part of a relationship that has nourished, healed, protected and
embraced the Kumeyaay people to the present day. It is part of a world view founded in the
harmony of the cycles of the sky and balance in the forces of life. For the Kumeyaay, red and
black represent the balance of those forces that provide for harmony within our bodies as well as
the world around us.
As students, faculty, staff and alumni of San Diego State University we acknowledge this legacy
from the Kumeyaay. We promote this balance in life as we pursue our goals of knowledge and
understanding. We find inspiration in the Kumeyaay spirit to open our minds and hearts. It is the
legacy of the red and black. It is the land of the Kumeyaay.
'eyay e’haan My heart is good
Course description:
In this course we will discuss major American Indian themes, beliefs, and practices and their
impact on Western civilization through institutions, art, literature, philosophy, and religion. This
course provides an overview of indigenous communities of North America, with some reference
to Mesoamerica and South America as well. We will be taking an interdisciplinary approach
examining culture, history, art, technology, social and political forms, and religion. We will
focus both on the nature and characteristics of these communities before and after European
arrival.
Course goals:
Students in this course will be able to:
1. Identify and describe major trends/issues in American Indian cultures and societies
2. Analyze written, visual, or performed texts in the humanities and fine arts with
sensitivity to their diverse cultural contexts and historical moments.
3. Develop a familiarity with various aesthetic and other value systems and the ways they
are communicated across time and cultures.
4. Argue from multiple perspectives about issues in the humanities that have personal and
global relevance.
5.Demonstrate the ability to approach complex problems and ask complex questions
drawing upon knowledge of the humanities.
Required books:
Mann, C. C. (2019). 1491: New revelations of the Americas before Columbus. Alfred A. Knopf.
*Additional texts/readings will be provided via canvas. These may include scholarly articles,
video clips, excerpts from books, news articles, and anything else the instructor deems relevant.
**Students are required to complete the weekly reading prior to class. Classes will be a
combination of lecture, discussion, in-class writing, and small group work.
Exams/Quizzes:
We will have two exams this semester: the midterm and final. The exams will be multiple choice,
true/false, fill in the blank and short answer. The Exams will be administered via canvas.
In addition, there will be weekly reading quizzes. There will be ten weekly quizzes at 10 points
each for a total of 100 points for the semester. If you’ve done the weekly reading, then these
quizzes will be straight forward. The quizzes will also be administer via canvas.
Land Culture Community Report:
In this short paper you will write about your identity in terms of land, community, and stories.
For this assignment, I am asking you to explore the person that you are today and how it has
been shaped by the place(s) that you grew up (land), the people that you were around,
(community, sports, school, music band, friends, etc.) and the stories that you heard from or
about your family.
Film/Documentary Response:
At different times during the semester we will watch a few short films/documentaries. Your short
paper may include a brief summary, critiques, questions, and your reaction. These responses
must be a minimum of 250 words.
Assignment Breakdown:
Assignment:
Points
Weekly Quizzes (10 @10 pts.):
Mid-term Exam:
Final Exam:
Land Culture, Community Report :
Film/Documentary Response:
100
100
100
50
50
Total points:
400
Grade Distribution:
A 93-100 % B+ 87-89 %
A- 90-92 % B 83-86 %
B- 80-82 %
C+ 77-79 %
C 73-76 %
C- 70-72 %
D+ 67-69 %
D 63-66 %
D- 60-62 %
F 0-59 %
Late Submissions:
Written assignments are to be submitted by the due date. Late submissions will not be accepted
unless: (1) an extension was granted by the professor in advance of the due date; or (2)
documentation of an unforeseeable emergent absence (as assessed in the professor’s sole
discretion) is provided.
If you know that a future event will interfere with your ability to complete course work, you are
encouraged to contact the instructor to make arrangements for completing the assignments.
Provided that student informs the instructor of the reason for the absence at least one week in
advance of the absence, the instructor will attempt to make arrangements, only when absences
are due to any of the following three reasons:
a. religious reasons;
b. jury duty or similar governmental obligation (a copy of the summons or other official
paperwork must be provided); and
c. university-sanctioned and/or university-approved activities (e.g., artistic performances,
participation in research conferences, intercollegiate athletic activities, student
government, required class field trips, etc.).
Classroom Courtesy:
You should be aware that we will discuss a number of subjects that you may find controversial.
In all of our class discussions, you will be expected to be respectful toward your classmates,
despite any disagreement you may have with a classmate’s ideas. In this way, we will foster an
atmosphere in which each student feels comfortable presenting his or her thoughts, as well as
critiquing the arguments presented by others. You should not worry that your grade will be
affected if you express opinions different from what you perceive my opinions to be. Instead,
focus upon using evidence and logic to present your own arguments and in critiquing the
arguments of others. In following these ground rules, I expect our discussion to be lively,
interesting, and intellectually challenging.
Communication:
The best way to get in touch with me is via email. Please refer to my office hours if you’d like to
meet in person. I can also be reached outside of my office hours by appointment only. Feel free
to let me know if there are any issues you want to discuss. Communication is key to your
success!! I will try to respond to your email communication within 24-48 hours. Here are some
quick tips for seamless communication:
‣ All email correspondence with me must comply with the following:
1. All correspondence shall be sent from your “@sdsu.edu” e-mail account.
Forwarded emails to and from your SDSU account to a personal account is
not recommended, as often times course related emails are “lost” in
cyberspace. I will not respond to any e-mail address other than SDSU
account addressed emails.
2. A subject line: When emailing me, please include the course number in the
subject of your email, so I can prioritize it over other emails that are not
course related.
3. Salutation: It is good forum to begin any correspondence with a polite
greeting, such as “Hi Professor Dyer-Redner.”
4. Timing: It is unwise to send an email message late at night when the question
needs to be answered the following morning, so plan ahead. As a rule, any
properly formatted email that you send to me will be responded to within
24-48 hours (or sooner).
5. Please be mindful of your tone in emails you send to your classmates and
myself.
ACADEMIC HONESTY:
The University adheres to a strict policy regarding cheating and plagiarism. These activities will
not be tolerated in this class. Become familiar with the policy and what constitutes plagiarism.
Any cheating or plagiarism will result in failing this class and a disciplinary review by the
University. These actions may lead to probation, suspension, or expulsion.
Examples of Plagiarism include but are not limited to:
• Using sources verbatim or paraphrasing without giving proper attribution (this can include
phrases, sentences, paragraphs and/or pages of work)
• Copying and pasting work from an online or offline source directly and calling it your own
• Using information you find from an online or offline source without giving the author
credit
• Replacing words or phrases from another source and inserting your own words or phrases
• Submitting a piece of work you did for one class to another class
TURNITIN:
Students agree that by taking this course all required papers may be subject to submission for
textual similarity review to turnitin.com for the detection of plagiarism. All submitted papers will
be included as source documents in the Turnitin.com reference database solely for the purpose of
detecting plagiarism of such papers. You may submit your papers in such a way that no
identifying information about you is included. Another option is that you may request, in writing,
that your papers not be submitted to www.turnitin.com. However, if you choose this option you
will be required to provide documentation to substantiate that the papers are your original work
and do not include any plagiarized material.
TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR CANVAS: Student support for Canvas is provided by the
Library Computing Hub, located on the 2nd floor of Love Library. They can be reached at
619-594-3189 or hub@mail.sdsu.edu
COPYRIGHT POLICY: SDSU respects the intellectual property of others and we ask our
faculty & students to do the same. It is best to assume that any material (e.g., graphic, html
coding, text, video, or sound) on the Web is copyrighted unless specific permission is given to
copy it under a Creative Commons License. More information about the use of copy written
material in education Copyright Fair Use Guidelines. Whenever possible, you should attribute
the original author of any work used under these provisions.
Unauthorized recording or dissemination of virtual course instruction or on-line course materials
by students, especially with the intent to disrupt normal university operations or facilitate
academic dishonesty, is a violation of the Student Conduct Code. This includes posting of exam
problems or questions to on-line platforms. Violators may be subject to discipline.
ACCOMMODATIONS
SDSU via the Student Ability Success Center (SASC) provides accommodations for students
with documented disabilities or medical conditions covered under the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA). In keeping with current public health guidance, I cannot provide
arrangements to students without an ADA-qualified disability or medical condition.
If you are a student with a disability and are in need of accommodations for this class, please
contact the Student Ability Success Center at sascinfo@sdsu.edu (or go to sdsu.edu/sasc) as soon
as possible. Please know accommodations are not retroactive, and I cannot provide
accommodations based upon disability until I have received an accommodation letter from the
Student Ability Success Center. SASC registration and accommodation approvals may take up to
10-14 business days, so please plan accordingly.
STUDENT PRIVACY AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) mandates the protection of student
information, including contact information, grades, and graded assignments. I will use canvas or
email to communicate with you, and I will not post grades or leave graded assignments in public
places. Students will be notified at the time of an assignment if copies of student work will be
retained beyond the end of the semester or used as examples for future students or the wider
public. Students maintain intellectual property rights to work products they create as part of this
course unless they are formally notified otherwise.
RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES
According to the University Policy File, students should notify instructors of planned absences
for religious observances by the end of the second week of classes.
ACADEMIC SUPPORT SERVICES
A complete list of all academic support services—including the Writing Center and Math
Learning Center—is available on the Student Affairs’ Academic Success website. Counseling &
Psychological Services (619-594-5220, sdsu.edu/cps) offers a range of psychological services for
students. Emergency support is available after hours at the same phone number. The San Diego
Access and Crisis Line can also be accessed 24 hours/day (1-888-724-7240).
SEXUAL VIOLENCE / TITLE IX MANDATED REPORTING
As an instructor, one of my responsibilities is to help create a safe learning environment on our
campus. I am a mandated reporter in my role as an SDSU employee. It is my goal that you feel
able to share information related to your life experiences in classroom discussions, in your
written work, and in our one-on-one meetings. I will seek to keep the information you share
private to the greatest extent possible. However, I am required to share information regarding
sexual violence on SDSU’s campus with the Title IX coordinator, Gail Mendez (619-594-6464).
She (or her designee) will contact you to let you know about accommodations and support
services at SDSU and possibilities for holding accountable the person who harmed you. Know
that you will not be forced to share information you do not wish to disclose and your level of
involvement will be your choice. If you do not want the Title IX Officer notified, instead of
disclosing this information to your instructor, you can speak confidentially with the following
people on campus and in the community. They can connect you with support services and
discuss options for pursuing a University or criminal investigation. Sexual Violence Victim
Advocate (619-594-0210) or Counseling and Psychological Services (619-594-5220,
psycserv@sdsu.edu). For more information regarding your university rights and options as a
survivor of sexual misconduct or sexual violence, please visit titleix.sdsu.edu.
SDSU ECONOMIC CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM
If you or a friend are experiencing food or housing insecurity, technology concerns, or any
unforeseen financial crisis, it is easy to get help! Visit sdsu.edu/ecrt for more information or to
submit a request for assistance.
SDSU’s Economic Crisis Response Team (ECRT) aims to bridge the gap in resources for
students experiencing immediate food, housing, or unforeseen financial crises that impact
student success. Using a holistic approach to well-being, ECRT supports students through crisis
by leveraging a campus-wide collaboration that utilizes on- and off-campus partnerships and
provides direct referrals based on each student’s unique circumstances. ECRT empowers students
to identify and access long-term, sustainable solutions in an effort to successfully graduate from
SDSU. Within 24 to 72 hours of submitting a referral, students are contacted by a member of
ECRT and are quickly connected to the appropriate resources and services.
For students who need assistance accessing technology for their classes, visit our ECRT website
(sdsu.edu/ecrt) to be connected with the SDSU library's technology checkout program. The
technology checkout program is available to both SDSU and Imperial Valley students.
Effective Fall 2021, students who register for face-to-face classes are expected to attend as
indicated in the course schedule. Faculty teaching face-to-face courses will not be required to
create a new, alternative on-line class as an accommodation for any student.
Students with medical conditions that would present a COVID-related risk in a face-to-face
instructional setting should contact the Student Ability Success Center (https://sdsu.edu/sasc) to
begin the process of getting support. Students who do not adhere to the Covid19 Student Policies
or the directives of their faculty will be directed to leave the classroom and will be referred to the
Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities.
Do not come to campus if you do not feel well. Remain home and monitor your symptoms and
seek medical attention as needed.
CAMPUS VACCINATION POLICY
On July 27, 2021, the California State University (CSU) system announced that students, faculty,
and staff, including auxiliary employees will need to be immunized against SARS-CoV-2, the
virus that causes COVID-19, with a vaccine record on file in order to access campus this fall. As
outlined by the CSU, this requirement is not contingent on the full U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) approval, and therefore removes some of the earlier uncertainty regarding
the policy’s effective date.
SDSU will continue to operate in accordance with all federal, state, and county public health
guidelines, and in compliance with CSU policies. The university will continue to prioritize the
safety of students, faculty, staff, and community, while seeking to fulfill its educational mission.
Visit the university’s COVID-19 website frequently, as the site is updated with current
information.
CAMPUS FACIAL COVERING POLICY
SDSU's full facial covering policy is available online and may be updated again in the fall.
Please refer to the embedded URL for any fall 2021 updates, as the site will be kept current.
Through Sept. 30, the university’s facial covering policy is as follows:
Facial covering policy for those who are fully vaccinated:
Facial coverings are required in the following settings:
•
•
•
When in public-facing indoor settings.
When in non-public-facing indoor settings, to include research spaces, when visitors or
students are present.
When in instructional settings, whether indoors or outdoors.
o This includes classrooms, instructional labs, spaces being actively used in
an instructional capacity, and the University Library.
o Vaccinated instructional faculty, teaching assistants and interpreters can
remove their facial coverings when teaching as long as students are masked
in the classroom.
Facial coverings are recommended in the following settings:
•
Indoors in non-public settings when gathering for meetings and other functions with
others, if no members of the public or students are present.
Facial covering policy for those who are not vaccinated:
•
•
•
Facial coverings must be worn at all times while indoors.
Unvaccinated individuals must wear facial coverings outdoors when unable to maintain
six feet of distance from others.
Certain limited exceptions to wearing a facial covering will be granted to unvaccinated
individuals, which are outlined in the full policy online.
Please refer to the full facial coverings policy, housed on the university’s COVID-19 site.
COURSE SCHEDULE:
*Course schedule is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor.
DATE
READING/ASSIGNMENT
TEST/QUIZ/NOTES
Week 1: Aug. 24/ 26
Introduction to course
Lecture: What is American Indian
Studies?
Week 2: Aug. 31/ Sept. 2
Spirit Cave Man/NAGPRA
Week 2 Quiz
Week 3: Sept. 7/9
1491 Chapter 1: A View from
Above
Week 3 Quiz
Sept. 6: Labor Day
Week 4: Sept. 14/16
1491 Chapter 2: Why Billington
Survived
Week 4 Quiz
Week 5: Sept. 21/23
Film: The People of the Marsh
Film/Documentary Response
due Sept. 23.
Lecture: The Peoplehood
Paradigm
Week 6: Sept. 28/30
1491 Chapter 4: Frequently
Asked Questions (read only p.
111-127)
Week 6 Quiz
Week 7: Oct. 5/7
1491 Chapter 6: Cotton (or
Anchovies) and Maize
Week 7 Quiz
Week 8: Oct. 12/14
Midterm Review: Oct. 12
Oct. 11: Indigenous Peoples Day
Mid-term:
Oct. 14th
Week 9: Oct. 19/21
1491 Chapter 8 Made in America Week 9 Quiz
Week 10: Oct. 26/28
1491 Chapter 11: The Great Law
of Peace
Week 10 Quiz
Week 11: Nov. 2/4
California/Northwest Coast
Week 11 Quiz
Land, Culture, Community
Report Nov. 4.
Week 12: Nov. 9/11
Plateau/Plains
Nov. 11: Veterans Day
Week 13: Nov. 16/18
Southwest
Week 13 Quiz
Week 14: Nov. 23/ 25
Northeast/Southeast
Nov. 25/26: Thanksgiving Break
Week 15: Nov. 30/ Dec. 2
Arctic/Subarctic
Week 15 Quiz
Week 16: Dec. 7/9
Conclusion of class
1491 Chapter 10: The Artificial
Wilderness
Dec. 10-16: Finals
DATE
READING/ASSIGNMENT
Week 17: Dec.
Final Exam: Thursday, Dec. 16
10:30-12:30
TEST/QUIZ/NOTES