The reality of Native American Studies

Monday, October 21, 2019  

Native American Studies (NAS) as a major or minor field of study in American universities and colleges is a relatively new discipline.

I remember back to the 1970’s when UC Berkeley, one of the top ten academic colleges in America, and certainly one of the most liberal, first started such a program. Thus, it fell to the many talented professors, including some Natives to design a curriculum and suggested reading materials, a major scholarly effort, subject to the stern standards and approval of academic committees.

As a student there, NAS intrigued me and I finally gained a minor degree in that field – a major degree had to be more practical. What opportunity then existed for an NAS major?

The information and historic material we students were exposed to was mind boggling and transformational. Somehow, I had struggled through 12 years of American government, history and civics courses where Native American government was never once mentioned. How can barbarians have a government and self-discipline themselves?

That was never discussed, except for the fact that Columbus landed, ‘discovering America’, the colonizers trying then for generations in vain to civilize the Natives. We also studied many other forms of government including Genghis Kahn (one of the world’s greatest warriors and hard-hearted conquerors), the crusaders; the many forms of European rulers, kings, Parliament; the Catholic Church and Popes, even Martin Luther, a crazy guy who tried to upend the Catholics; the US Presidency; Congress; State Government – Governor, Legislature; County government and even the local School Boards who had a lot to say about high school sports.

But Tribal government? Nope. Our teachers had not heard of the IRA or if so, probably thought it had to do with the Irish.

So, in 1971 as a high school graduate with honors, I did know anything about Tribal Government, except for the dim idea that some old Cheyenne guys hung around the tribal office and if Grandma hollered at them enough, might produce a voucher for school clothes. Other than that, she would argue with them about her lease checks. They couldn’t do more than send her to the local BIA office, then in charge of everything.

Thus, going to Berkeley and enrolling in NAS classes was quite an eye-opener. Treaty rights? Genocide? Relocation? Water rights? Sovereignty? I couldn’t even spell it, much less grasp the concept. And, what could those old guys back on the Rez do about those things?

In retrospect, I salute those professors who created Native American Studies. They had to start from scratch, involving much scholarly research and assembling a reading list. The amazing thing is that the classes attracted more whites than Indians, Native students in short supply at the time, barely able to fill up the necessary quota to hold a class.

Clara Caufield can be reached at acheyennevoice@gmail.com

Copyright permission Native Sun News Today