CALIFORNIA'S NATIVE PEOPLES
CLASS SYLLABUS
Anthropology 10, Hartnell College, Fall Semester
1999
Chuck Smith, Instructor
Class meets from 6:00 to 8:50 p.m. in Room C329 for eighteen consecutive Thursdays (except for 25 November, a school holiday), beginning 19 August 1999 and ending 16 December 1999.
This course is primarily designed to provide an introduction to the socio-cultural evolution of the indigenous peoples of California, especially in relation to those historical-cultural experiences likely to have contributed to the present-day conditions of native communities and individuals. The lectures explore the history of the native peoples, beginning with their first appearance and continuing chronologically to the present. Interwoven with this historical account are ethnographic descriptions of selected Native Californian societies (both past and present).
Attempting to discuss the vast evolutionary history and cultural diversity of the Native Californian peoples is both a daunting task and humbling prospect, as well as lying beyond the scope of any one course. Therefore, I will make some generalizations, exclude some time periods, and discuss in detail only certain societies and certain events and experiences. I make no attempt to include those Native American groups who lived in what came to be called Baja California (except for those groups whose original homelands included both what is now Alta and Baja California).
Before the coming of the Europeans to California, California's indigenous peoples occupied many varied habitats and developed a wide range of technological, sociological and ideological systems to better fit themselves to their environments. Their ecological diversity was matched by an astonishing linguistic, and to some extent, cultural proliferation and differentiation. The course demonstrates how the native peoples were situated within the interlocking, self-sustaining natural systems they inhabited. It also summarizes the destruction of native lifeways, the decimation of the population and consequent culture losses as a result of the European and American onslaught, and shows how various native communities responded, and what the nature of Indian existence is today for California's First Peoples. The native peoples of California were and are a people with a qualitatively different view of their place in the order of things, especially when contrasted with the Euro-American and Anglo-American world view. And while we today are perhaps not prepared to mimic their lifestyle, it might not hurt if we got inside their heads and absorbed some of the basic assumptions of their world view. The California Indians have a lot to tell us... if we learn to listen.
Michael Dorris, Modoc Indian author, offers some sound advice on the problems associated with doing Native American history. He notes that whether we are Native or not, whether we hail from the U.S. or not, we never approach that Native American history with a blank slate. We all carry a host of assumptions and expectations unconsciously internalized, codified, and given "validity" and meaning through exposure to countless Hollywood westerns, T.V. programs, novels (including those of Tony Hillerman and James Fenimore Cooper), by childhood cowboy-and-Indian games, and by admonitions from our parents to "stop acting like a bunch of wild Indians." From these multiple sources come our deep-seated images of "Indians:" be they the noble "redman" (think of Squanto) or the bloodthirsty savage. We must acknowledge that we begin our inquiry into Native history, not from some neutral point, but many steps back, and we bring to our inquiry a whole host of stereotypes, biases, and prejudices.
Given the foregoing, and since I am teaching and writing from an outsider's perspective, I cannot accurately represent Indian "desires and interests," I make no pretense to do so, and I have no desire to do so. Also, it is important for you to remember that anthropologists (and that is what I am) are all-too-human and our interests and scholarship are intricately connected with our biases and prejudices. I freely admit that I am not objective and I do not present "facts," rather I offer information about the Native Americans of California according to my interpretation of the facts, interpretations which reflect my biases and prejudices. However, I try to present information that I believe to be both accurate and non-exploitative. If you find materials associated with this web site which you believe to be inaccurate, or offensive to or exploitative of California's First Peoples, please e-mail me at crsmith@cabrillo.cc.ca.us. Also, all of the opinions expressed by me (either in class or on the web pages I have created to accompany my California Indian class lectures) are mine and not those of my employers, Cabrillo and Hartnell Colleges.
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By the end of the class, you should be able to provide an integrated overview of the Native Peoples of California. At a minimum you should be able to:
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All required texts, except for the Class Reader, may be purchased at the College's Bookstore. The Class Reader will be available for purchase at the second class meeting. If there are circumstances which prevent your buying any of the texts, please contact me no later than the second class meeting.
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As an instructor, I need some way to assess the knowledge you have gained from this course as well as assign you a semester grade. There are three options students may choose for evaluation/grading purposes.
Option 1
Take the midterm and final exams, and miss no more than one Thursday class.
You will be evaluated/graded based upon:
Please note: Two weeks prior to each exam an exam study guide will be distributed. Each exam will be based upon the study guide. The midterm exam is scheduled for 7 October; the final for 16 December. In general, I do not allow make up exams. However, there are exceptions. If any of the scheduled exams conflict with the observation of religious holidays, alternative dates for makeup exams may be arranged. Or, IF you are desperately ill or have a real emergency and will miss an exam or fieldtrip, it is imperative that you contact me as soon as possible. So call me (831 477-5201 ext 1608) or email me [crsmith@cruzio.com].
As a student in a college level class I expect you to attend ALL lectures and complete all assignments. If you do not fulfill these basic requirements, you should expect to receive a below-average grade.
Option 2
Similar to Option 1, except that you may chose to substitute a Portfolio
for either or both exams. Each Portfolio must demonstrate the work you have
done and the knowledge gained. Persons who choose this option will submit
a separate portfolio for each section of the course on the day of the exam
for that part. A portfolio will typically consist of
Each student's portfolio will be evaluated on the basis of critical thinking
skills displayed as well as overall visual presentation. Each portfolio
will be graded on a numerical scale of100 points. The student's final grade
will be based on their total score, just like Option 1.
If you contemplate preparing a portfolio I urge you to see me for suggested
readings or topics or Web sites. Students may do portfolios for any or all
of the parts of the class. Anyone who creates a portfolio is exempt from
the exam for that part of the course.
Option 3
A student may choose to substitute for either the midterm or the final a
Web Page on a Native California nation, or on a topic dealing with some
aspect of Native California culture (past or present or both). If a student
chooses to prepare a Web page on some aspect of current culture and/or affairs,
it is mandatory that the student establish lines of communication
(telephone calls, mail, e-mail) with those Native Californians who might
be impacted by the page. The web page must be original, of substantial length,
and contain text, graphics (at least two), and links to other relevant web
sites.
Making a Web page is NOT difficult, dispite what you might hear. For those who have Netscape 4 installed on their computer (it can be dowloaded for free from Netscape's homepage), preparing a web page is as easy as typing a paper as Netscape now has an HTML editor as part of their browser program. You just type the information and the editor does all the HTML formatting. It couldn't be any easier.
The Web page will be reviewed and critiqued by both the instructor and the class, and where necessary, by the appropriate Native California people. If the Web page is deemed suitable for posting, it will be uploaded to the permanent Native Peoples of California page (with appropriate citations as to authorship) of the Cabrillo Anthropology Department.
A student contemplating this option MUST SEE ME BEFORE BEGINNING any work on the page. The final grade will be based on the total score, just like Options 1 and 2.
GRADES: The grading scale is as follows:
NOTE: You may raise questions with me about the grades on your exams. In order to raise a question, you must write out what your concerns are and give this to me (e.g., "I think you added the points up incorrectly," or, "On question #5, I am sure that the Pomo participated in the Kuksu religion."). NO semester grade changes can be made, or even considered, after the first month of the semester following the one in which you received the grade.
INCOMPLETES
Requests for an INCOMPLETE in the course will only be considered (but not
automatically granted) if the student has completed and passed 80% of the
major requirements (exams, homework, etc.).
It is your responsibility to notify me in advance (either by phone, email, mail, or any other means)
of any circumstances that prevent you completing the course requirements
on the dates and by the deadlines given in class and listed on the class
syllabus.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
Students who anticipate problems with fulfilling course requirements because
of the way they see, hear, read, or get around campus should advise the
instructor within the first two weeks of class. It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
to remind me at least one week before the exams of your needs in this matter.
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WWW Address: www.cabrillo.cc.ca.us/~crsmith
Office: None
Telephone: 831 477-5201 ext. 1608 (messages only)
Mailbox: Lobby between President's Office and Office of Instruction,
Box S-9 Bottom
Office Hours: By Appointment Only
Email: crsmith@cabrillo.cc.ca.us
[or] crsmith@cruzio.com
Last Updated: 18 August 1999
