239904 Revisiting the Noble Savage: Writings by Native North Americans (S) (SoSe 2014)

What is the first image that flashes up in your mind when you hear the term "Native Americans"? Do not be afraid to admit it is something of the "Winnetou/Dances with Wolves" kind. Stereotypical, romantized images of North America's First Peoples abound, and particularly the idea of the Noble Savage proves persistent.
With the help of writings by Native North Americans -fictional and non-fictional- this class seeks to counter simplified representations of these peoples. Because the native tribes of North America in their traditional ways have a different understanding of territories than national borders, we will read texts produced in both Canada and the United States.