Decolonizing Indigenous Middletown: Native Histories of the Wangunk Indian People
AMST 250
Fall 2016 not offered
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| Certificates: Civic Engagement |
| Course Cluster: Service-Learning |
Students will be introduced to the new field of settler colonial studies, the rapidly transforming field of critical indigenous studies, along with Native American history and historiography addressing southern New England. Taking up a decolonizing methodological approach, the class will focus on the sparsely documented history of the Wangunk Indian Tribe, the indigenous people of the place we call "Middletown," also known as Mattabesett. The Wangunk people, part of the Algonquin cultural group, historically presided over both sides of the Connecticut River in present-day Middletown and Portland, while their traditional territory reached as far north as Wethersfield and Chatham. Although regarded as "extinct" by settlers in the aftermath of King Philip's War, 1675-78, the Wangunk continue to live into the 21st century. This is a service-learning course that engages the Wangunk Tribe and the Middlesex Historical Society while enabling students to make connections between community-based work, archival research, oral historical work, and select academic studies. |
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| Credit: 1.25 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS AMST |
| Course Format: Lecture / Discussion | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (AMST) |
Major Readings:
Jean M. O'Brien, FIRSTING AND LASTING: WRITING INDIANS OUT OF EXISTENCE IN NEW ENGLAND
Amy Den Ouden, BEYOND CONQUEST: NATIVE PEOPLES AND THE STRUGGLE FOR HISTORY IN NEW ENGLAND
Linda Tuhiwai Smith, DECOLONIZING METHODOLOGIES: RESEARCH AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES (2ND EDITION)
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Examinations and Assignments:
There will be two short papers and one final research project to be presented in public beyond Wesleyan for the broader community. Students are also expected to participate in class discussion and online Moodle forums, as well as complete occasional homework assignments. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
Students will be expected to conduct archival research off-campus (e.g. the Middlesex Historical Society, the Portland Historical Society, and the Connecticut Historical Society/Connecticut State Library), and participate in class field trips related to the course (e.g. The Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center, and others, TBA).
Students interested in enrolling in the course should send an email to the instructor: jkauanui@wesleyan.edu explaining why they want to take the course, no later than April 10th. All POI decisions will be made by April 12th |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
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