Course Title: Exploring Wisconsin Geography with Native American Perspectives
Course Description:
“Exploring Wisconsin Geography with Native American Perspectives” is an online course that offers students an in-depth exploration of the geographical features, cultural landscapes, and historical legacies of Wisconsin, with a particular focus on the contributions and perspectives of Native American tribes and nations. Through weekly online lectures, interactive discussions, virtual field trips, and multimedia resources, students will develop a holistic understanding of Wisconsin’s geography while honoring and centering indigenous knowledge and perspectives.
Course Objectives:
Study Geographic Regions: Examine the diverse geographic regions of Wisconsin, including the Northwoods, Driftless Area, Central Sands, Lake Superior Lowland, and Western Upland, and the unique landforms, ecosystems, and natural resources they contain.
Explore Cultural Landscapes: Investigate the cultural landscapes shaped by Native American tribes and nations across Wisconsin, including sacred sites, burial mounds, treaty territories, and traditional gathering places, and their significance to indigenous communities.
Understand Historical Context: Gain insight into the historical context of Wisconsin’s indigenous peoples, including pre-contact societies, early interactions with European explorers and settlers, colonization, forced removal, treaty-making, and contemporary issues of sovereignty and self-determination.
Analyze Environmental Relationships: Explore the complex relationships between indigenous peoples and the environment, including traditional ecological knowledge, land stewardship practices, resource management, and the impacts of colonialism, land dispossession, and environmental degradation.
Examine Contemporary Issues: Investigate contemporary issues facing Native American tribes and nations in Wisconsin, including land rights, environmental justice, economic development, education, healthcare, and cultural revitalization efforts.
Promote Cultural Understanding: Foster cultural understanding, respect, and appreciation for the diverse cultures, languages, traditions, and worldviews of Wisconsin’s indigenous peoples through dialogue, storytelling, and engagement with guest speakers and community members.
Course Format: (Beginning September, 2024)
This online course will be delivered through weekly live lectures, pre-recorded video presentations, interactive discussions, virtual field trips, and multimedia resources accessible via the online learning platform. Students will have the opportunity to engage with guest speakers, tribal elders, cultural experts, and indigenous community members.
Self-Paced Option (anytime after June 11, 2024)
Students who want to work at their own pace can skip the online meetings and progress through the course independently. Students who choose this option will have assignments and assessments graded as usual. Teachers continue to provide assistance and feedback. Self-paced courses still qualify for credit.
Prerequisites:
No prior coursework in geography or Native American studies is required. Students should have an interest in learning about Wisconsin’s geography, indigenous cultures, histories, and contemporary issues and be open to engaging in respectful dialogue and reflection.
Assessment:
Assessment will be based on participation in online discussions, completion of assignments and reflections, performance on quizzes and exams, and the quality of projects. Emphasis will be placed on critical thinking skills, cultural understanding, and application of geographic concepts to real-world scenarios.
Note:
This course will provide students with a deeper appreciation and understanding of the geographical diversity, cultural richness, and historical significance of Wisconsin, while centering indigenous perspectives and promoting cultural competency, empathy, and ally-ship.