Crash Course Native American History: An Introduction

Understanding Native American History

• 💡 The history of Indigenous peoples in the U.S. is often misunderstood, with common misconceptions starting in 1492 and ending in the late 1800s, portraying Native Americans as a people of the past.
• 📌 Native Americans are here and now, and understanding their history is crucial for anyone who calls these lands home.
• 🧠 The Crash Course Native American History series aims to explore the philosophies, stories, and traditions of hundreds of distinct Native nations.

Key Themes and Figures

• 🚀 The series will cover topics such as the Wampanoag language revitalization by Jessie Little Doe Baird and the fight to change the Washington D.C. NFL team name led by Suzan Shown Harjo.
• 💬 It will also delve into Native Identity 101, exploring what it means to be a citizen of a Native nation today.
• ⚖️ The course will trace the historical trajectory from treaties to reservations to modern tribal governments.

Course Development and Host

• 🤝 The series was developed with a team of Indigenous experts, including scholars in federal Indian policy, curriculum developers, and artists.
• 🎤 Host Che Jim, an actor, comedian, educator, activist, and enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, emphasizes that "laughter is medicine" as a common saying among Native American people, representing resiliency and a path to healing and growth.
• ✅ The course is designed to help viewers analyze the political and legal relationship between Native nations and the U.S. government, develop an informed perspective on distinct Native cultures, and draw connections between past and present experiences.