HNRS 362V: Native American Philosophy and Spirituality

HON 362V Native American Philosophy and Spirituality – Goals, Objectives & Exam 3

SECTION III: COURSE GOAL 3: The student shall review the historic and present-day spiritual issues and practices in North America.

Thur Oct 6 - Ritual Prayer & Drama

            READINGS:  Ritual Drama & Prayer (Beck, Walters, Francisco, 1995) The Sacred Ch. 2 ritual

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:   The student is able to recall and explain: 1) a. the overall meaning of ritual as a means to revitalize, give new life, and order to tribal cosmology; b) the acting out and making visible the guiding vision of the people’s sacred life as a means to synthesize a consciousness of tribal cosmology 2)  a) Prayer as an element of ritual & ceremonials through speaking, chanting, whispered or by individual or group as a “collective mindfulness” [one thought] (39); b) sometimes accompanied by offering of tobacco, corn or other objects as a sacred gesture of gifting or resiprosity; 3) a) Songs for healing, honoring, dancing, hunting c) breath a mysterious force of life; breathing, singing, & prayer one of the great circles of creation, d) like mindfulness it has the ability to transform & vitalize (power). 

ASSIGNMENT:  

LECTURE/DISCUSION:  Small & large group discussion     

Tues Oct 11 - Native American Religion

TOPIC: Native American Religion (Champagne, 1994)

READINGS:  Creating Through Cosmic Give-and-Take (Kenneth M. Morrison, 441-474);  Morrison in Champagn_Indian-Religion.pdf     Morrison - Native religion 2.pdf

LEARNING OBJECTIVES   The student is able to describe and explain: 1) the Native worldview in terms of traditional ceremonies, religiousness, European misunderstanding, and the dynamics of lifeways and Spirituality; 2) a) Native American mythology misunderstandings, historical existence, origin myth and life cycle; b) comparison of Native & Judeo-Christian perspectives; 3) the paradigm of religious power.   

ASSIGNMENT:  Learning Journal 2

LECTURE/DISCUSION: Small & large group discussion on LL3     Native Religions (2).ppt          NOTES

 

Thur Oct 13 - : Pluralistic Religious Beliefs

TOPIC:  Native American Religion     

READINGS:  Pluralistic Religious Beliefs (Talbot, 475-509)     Pluralistic Religious beliefs - Talbot.pdf

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:    The student will be able to describe and explain the following 1) The general historical evolution of religion from before European conquest to contemporary multiplicity of practices; 2) Christian influences; 3) New Religions; 4) Early Prophet Movements; 5) Revivalistic Movements;  6) Reservation-era Religious Movements; 7) Other new religions; 8) Syncretic, pluralistic and other religious process in the Southwest; and Religious revitalization today.   

ASSIGNMENT:           

LECTURE/DISCUSION:  Small & large group discussions       

NOTES

Tues Oct 18 - Religion & the Sacred

TOPIC:  Native American Spirituality   

READINGS:  Seeking Life: … Religion & the Sacred (Beck, Walters, Francisco, 1995)   The Sacred Ch. 1 religion n sacred-1.pdf

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:  The student is able to recall and identify some of the important concepts and principles related to: 1) the meaning, role & function of sacred traditional practices and observances of Native American people: 2) Definitions of religion and sacred ways; 3) Wisdom & divinity as daily awareness; 4) A belief or knowledge of sacred powers: 5) All things dependent on each other; 6) Worship as a personal commitment to the sources of life; 6) Sacred practitioners and passing on sacred knowledge;  and 7) Humor as a necessary part of the sacred

 ASSIGNMENT :  Report on Native American Church  Report 1

 LECTURE/DISCUSION:  Small & large group discussion on Report     

NOTES:  Last Day to Drop  w/ “W” Mon, Oct 17

 

Thus Oct 20 - Blackfeet Medicine Bundles

TOPIC:  Native American Spirituality

READINGS:     1) Peigan/Blackfoot Concepts of Sacred Bundles and their Functions“Akak’stiman …” (Crowshoe & Manneschmidt, 2002)  Peigan medicine bundles.pdf .     2)  "Overview of the Medicine Bundle Complex" (pp. 120-149) in Medicine Bundle Persons: Blackfoot Ontology and the Study of Native American Religions (Lokensgard, 1996)   med bun 3 - Lokensgard.pdf

LEARNING OBJECTIVES  1) The student is able to recall and identify the social and ceremonial function of the  following Blackfoot bundles: Natoas (Sun Dance Bundle), Beaver Bundle, Thunder Medicine Pipe Bundles and general aspects of Society and Personal Bundles.   2) The student is able to describe and explain the bundle ontological concept of "person-hood".

ASSIGNMENT :

LECTURE/DISCUSION: Medicine Bundle Concept (Class may meet outside)

NOTES

Tues Oct 25 - Pueblo Nations

READINGS:  Pueblo Nations, Chapters 1 & 2 (Sando, 1992)       Sando Ch. 1.pdf     Sando Ch. 2.pdf

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: The student is able to recall and identify the philosophical and spiritual aspects of the New Mexico Pueblos 1) locations, language, and the Cacique governance systems and 2) traditional history, religion and economy      

ASSIGNMENT:  Report on Pueblo intellectual property

LECTURE/DISCUSION:  Small & large group discussion on Report     

NOTES

Thur Oct 27 - The Tewa World

TOPIC:  Native American Spirituality   

READINGS:  The Tewa World, Ch. 1 , Ch. 2 , (Ortiz      Ortiz Chapter 1.pdf    Ortiz Chapter 2 (1).pdf

LEARNING OBJECTIVES      

ASSIGNMENT: discussion                    

LECTURE/DISCUSION:  small & large group discussion         

NOTES

 

Tues Nov 1 - Exam 3 Theme Paper

Theme Report Rubric

The student shall compose a 7-9 page theme paper on the subject of Plains Indians Sundance.  The paper will describe and explain the function and purpose of the Plains Indian Sundance in a way the uninformed reader would understand.  In a second section, the student shall analyze and explain how the concepts and principles of Native American philosophy and spirituality coincide with the Plains Indians Sundance (I recommend using the course goals and learning objectives as a guide in the analysis and appraisal section). The student shall use the following criterial in composing the report:

• Seven (7) to nine (9) pages in length with standard 1” margins using Times New Roman 12 point font and double-space lines (the title page and reference sections do not count as pages).
• The report is written in the students own words following APA referencing methodology.  I require parenthetical citations in the body of the report (author, date, pages).  The writer shall appropriately cite all statements of fact and quotations.  The student is required to judiciously, utilize limited quotations to only emphasize or express important ideas and concepts.  The student shall not use lengthy quotations.
• The student must have at least 5-6 references with only two internet sources. The student is required to list only the references cited end of the document.  The analysis and appraisal section does not require citations but the student needs to back up statement by referring to the goal and objectives in “Section III” of the modules on Canvas.

I will evaluate the repot using the following criteria:

Categories  and Qualities	Beginning	Developing	Accomplished	Point Value
Introduction	Limited description and explanation of the overall theme	the overall theme is generally described and explained	The overall them is introduced & groundwork (direction) is clear	3
Function & purpose of Sundance	Limited description & explanation	Good breadth & depth	Clear description & explanation	6
Analysis & appraisal	Limited logical examination	Justification and reasoning is adequate	Judgement & rationale  reflects section goal & learning objectives	6
Clarity, flow & interrelatedness	Communication somewhat vague and uncertain; somewhat differentiated, limited connectivity; unclear relationship between statements	Good focus, fair precision and comprehension; related connectivity, good relativity and understanding	Intelligible explanation with smooth uninterrupted deliberation and relationship of information	3
Conclusion:  A synthesis of ideas is presented	Limited synthesis information & conclusion based on the body of report	Concluding remarks synthesize most ideas;  Some conclusions,  not supported in the body of the report	Synthesis of ideas makes succinct and precise conclusions based on insights of the subject matter	3
Citations/References:  Proper APA Format	Limited & proper citation & references; APA format was not used	Citations &  references present;  Some formatting  or components were missing or APA format was not used	All citations included & references matched & encoded in APA format.	6
Total Points (27 possible)				27