Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

The Course begins by defining exactly what is an "Indian". It continues in describing the goals of Anthropology. A delineation of the earliest Northwest Native/European encounters and descriptions follows. Next, the history of Northwest Anthropological research is detailed. The prehistory of the Northwest is presented followed by first, a description of the major cultural and geographic divisions and then, the major linguistic phyla spoken within the Northwest Coast Cultural and geographic Area. What follows are in-depth descriptions of various specific native groups that best represent a specific region. Finally, a brief description is presented of the present nature and condition the Northwest's Indian population.

Upon successful completions students should be able to:

Use an understanding of the prehistory of Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest to better comprehend the diversity of people in the community
or the workplace.
Use an understanding of the languages and cultures of Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest in order to better understand the diversity of people in the
community or the workplace.

1. Examine the cultural history of Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest

2. Identify Native American language and cultures native to the Nrothwest region. 

Assessment strategies may include:

* exams (take home or in class)

* term papers

Themes:

• Indian/Native American
• Anthropology
• Genetic Origins
• Culture and Geography
• Variation
• Ethnic Group versus "Tribe"

Issues:

• Human Antiquity in the Northwest
• Perception
• Cultural Origins

Concepts:

• Variation versus "Race"
• Culture
• Sociopolitical organization
• Sociolinguistic organization
• Culture Ecology
• Linguistics
• History

Skills:

• Study Northwest American Indian Anthropology at the college level
• Learn the Anthropology of American Northwest Indian America