I teach the AIS literature, history and support classes at Harding.  In American Indian Literature this trimester we’ve been reading “Reservation Blues” by famed author Sherman Alexie.  People might recognize some of the characters in the book from his film “Smoke Signals,” for which Alexie wrote the screenplay.  In class students have been analyzing and interpreting the imagery of Alexie’s world, from ancestral nightmares to rock and roll dreams, “Reservation Blues” is a novel of celebration and survival.  A common theme for discussion is how our past influences our modern lives. 

Which brings me directly to American Indian History.  First trimester is more of a history “survey” class, with wide-reaching sweeps over time.  We started the trimester learning various theories of how the Americas became populated.  The Bering Strait Theory is only  ONE theory.  We also did a unit on Mesoamerica, including the Mayas and Aztecs, and are currently learning about the 12 Cultural Areas of North America.  By the end of the trimester we’ll get to the arrival of Christopher Columbus and the other explorers that followed. 

Next trimester we’ll be learning about traditional storytelling and reading “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee.”  See  your counselor if you’d like to enroll.