Course Syllabus

NAS 4033/5033

Research Methods in Native American Studies

F 3:30-6:10

Online Zoom

 Long before the University of Oklahoma was established, the land on which the University now resides was the traditional home of the “Hasinais” Caddo Nation and “Kirikirʔi:s” Wichita & Affiliated Tribes.

We acknowledge this territory once also served as a hunting ground, trade exchange point, and migration route for the Apache, Comanche, Kiowa and Osage nations. 

Today, 39 tribal nations dwell in the state of Oklahoma as a result of settler and colonial policies that were designed to assimilate Native people.

The University of Oklahoma recognizes the historical connection our university has with its indigenous community. We acknowledge, honor and respect the diverse Indigenous peoples connected to this land. We fully recognize, support and advocate for the sovereign rights of all of Oklahoma’s 39 tribal nations. This acknowledgement is aligned with our university’s core value of creating a diverse and inclusive community. It is an institutional responsibility to recognize and acknowledge the people, culture and history that make up our entire OU Community.

 As we engage in learning we commit to the following:

 

  1. Meaningfully reflecting on the settler colonial narrative of the University of Oklahoma and the historical context of the institution, Norman, and the State of Oklahoma;
  2. Robustly interrogate the context (both historical and present day) Oklahoma and Tribal Nations as it relates to polices that impact Indigenous peoples;
  3. Actively work to decenter the institution and to acknowledge the contributions of Indigenous peoples in what is now known as Oklahoma;
  4. Work to disrupt systems of exclusion, colonialism, and inequality;
  5. Engage in research practices that do not recreate harm in Indigenous communities.

 

Instructor:  Dr. L. Harjo                                          

Office:  Copeland Hall, 207                                     

Phone:  405-325-2312                                                       

Email:  harjo@ou.edu

Office Hours:  Monday 10:00-12:00 pm, please make an appointment

Learning Management System: canvas.ou.edu

 Course Description:

The academy privileges and normalizes Western ways of knowing the world, and its concomitant research methods.  This course provides ways of advancing Indigenous community knowledge production, building community capacity, and redistribution power, and authorship in Indigenous communities.

 Course Objective:  This course will explore a survey of Indigenous research methodologies while also being exposed to community participatory methods. Students will test and calibrate their methodological approaches, and evaulate appropriateness of methods for the research questions.

 

Student Developed Learning Outcomes:

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of situated knowledges and Indigenous methodologies in research;
  2. Evaluate and calibrate research design that responds to a range of Indigenous contexts;
  3. Articulate various decolonial approaches to research and writing research;
  4. Understand issues of sovereignty in research with tribal communities and tribal IRB processes.

 

Texts & Materials

Based on the availability of readings and guest speakers, the readings listed in this syllabus may change, and students will receive an updated syllabus via Canvas should that occur. 

-The readings will be posted on Canvas as the course progresses.

-You will need to purchase at least one notebook, it will be dedicated to field notes, and field reflections to use for the exercises, and you can reference your notes when you present your work in class. 

-You will provide a typewritten portfolio of your body of research at the end of the course.

-Set of colored markers

-Post-it notes

 

Grading:

Evaluation of your learning will be determined in the following ways:

 1. ATTENDANCE & PARTICIPATION. 20% Entails attending online classes, engaged in the class, provide at least two critical discussion questions in each class, participate in the debriefing of exercises, there might be pop quizzes in the form of a multiple-choice quiz or a writing prompt. Attendance and class participation are necessary and are a part of your grade. You will be expected to participate in class discussions and to come to class prepared.

 

  1. EXERCISES AND ASSIGNMENTS. 50% The exercises give you an opportunity to perform the methods in a low-stakes environment, exposing you to methods and allowing you to reflect on what does/doesn’t work in the real world. Thus, students build experience for assessing which methods work best for them as an academic/practitioner, and will best answer their research questions. Note that each of these exercises, if conducted in a full-blown research inquiry, would take much more time than one day. These exercises are designed to help you learn from your mistakes.  You may or may not generate “good data”.  The point of these exercises is to try out participatory ways of thinking and the techniques of participatory inquiry.  This practice also gives you the opportunity to recalibrate a particular method before going “live” with it.

The weekly exercises will, in conjunction with assigned readings, provide you with practice in the key aspects of participatory research and several techniques of the collection and analysis of participatory data.  Each class will include a workshop-based review of student work. 

One form of learning in this class will be dialoguing with each other in an online discussion board and providing mutual comment and assistance.  This is an intensive two week class, so you will need to read the articles and post your comments before midnight the day you are scheduled to read them.

Part of your course obligation is to review the work of your classmates, post comments on the discussion board, and be prepared to give further feedback in class.  This review will also help illuminate your own practice (think of it as an on-line study group). 

  1. FINAL PORTFOLIO. 30% Your final assignment will be a portfolio of the work you generate in the class-with a section that proposes a methodological approach for your research question. Each week I will introduce a new assignment that builds your methodological repertoire.  Graduate students will complete an IRB application.

 

 

 

Classroom Expectations: 

  • Participation is imperative in this course. There will be a great deal of class discussion and in-class activities, all of which will depend on your level of preparedness and participation. You are expected to attend class regularly, come to class prepared, and be fully engaged in all class activities (i.e. lecture, discussion, group work, assignments, etc.). This means that you must complete all assigned readings & assignments, have thoughtfully reflected on both, and are prepared to discuss and participate in class. You are expected to come to class with an attitude that reflects respect and enthusiasm. 
    • Do not use your cell phone in class. Turn off cell phone, unless you are a primary care giver, or monitoring an emergency (let me know before class) you may put on device on vibrate.
    • Email: Check your OU e-mail regularly. Periodically, I will send notices or changes to assignments via e-mail, for which you will be held responsible. If you need to reach me, the best ways to contact me is via email or see me during my office hours (or by appointment).
    • Attendance: Please come on time and be prepared to participate in class. In the event that an absence is unavoidable, notify me in advance. If you miss a class or are late, it is your responsibility to find out what you have missed. Out of respect for the professor and your classmates, please come on time to class each week.
    • Careful reading in advance of each meeting, with the goal of contributing substantially to analytical discussion of reading materials.  Allow yourself enough time to reflect on readings before class
    • Print and submit hard copies of your writing assignments, please do not delegate your print job to me by sending me your only your electronic copy, CRP has limited funds for printing.
    • There will be a variety of ideologies both presented and represented in the room, please be respectful of all viewpoints and your colleagues.

 

  • You are expected to abide by the University of Oklahoma academic integrity guidelines. Please visit “A Student’s Guide to Academic Integrity at the University of Oklahoma”( at http://www.ou.edu/provost/integrity) and familiarize yourself with codes of academic integrity.  Here are some helpful videos provided by OU on academic integrity

 

 

Classroom Environment and Accommodations:

Values of respect are central to our work as scholars and educators.  This includes values of inclusion and respect for diversity. Please see the University of Oklahoma’s Non-Discrimination Policy at: http://www.ou.edu/eoo/policies-procedures/non-discrimination.

 

In addition, class rosters and the University data system are provided to instructors with students’ legal names and gender identifications. However, I understand and respect that not all students use their legal names or sex/gender assigned at birth. I will use the name and/or pronouns you use. (Credit to Dr. Z Nicolazzo for providing language to support trans students)

 

University Policies, Resources & Accommodations:

 

Please notify me if you need resources or accommodations to successfully complete this course.  You may also seek campus-wide support, information, and/or services:

  • Disability Resource Center:  http://www.ou.edu/content/drc.html
    • In order to receive accommodations in a course, students must register with the Office of Disability Services. The Office of Disability Services is located at the University Community Center – 730 College Ave.  405.325.3852 or 405.217.3494 http://www.ou.edu/drc
  • University of Oklahoma Non-Discrimination Policy: http://www.ou.edu/eoo/policies-procedures/non-discrimination
  • Pregnant and Parenting Students’ Rights: “Should you need modifications or adjustments to your course requirements because of documented pregnancy-related or childbirth-related issues, please contact me as soon as possible to discuss.  Generally, modifications will be made where medically necessary and similar in scope to accommodations based on temporary disability” - http://www.ou.edu/eoo/faqs/pregnancy-faqs.html%20for%20commonly%20asked
    • NOTE: The current OU language reflects a heteronormative and colonial nuclear family framework. If you are adopting, fostering, caring for extended family members, or otherwise significantly shifting your dependent care demands, and need accommodations, please let me know as soon as possible so we can develop an appropriate plan.
  • Observance of religious holidays:
    • “It is the policy of the University to excuse the absences of students that result from religious observances and to provide without penalty for the rescheduling of examinations and additional required class work that may fall on religious holidays” (Section 3.15.2 of The Faculty Handbook). In this course, this extends to cultural and spiritual observances, feasts, dances, etc., not covered by colonial notions of religion. Please notify me immediately of any anticipated absences.
  • OU bathroom policy: http://www.ou.edu/content/dam/eoo/documents/Restroom%20Access%20Statement.pdf 
  • OU Title IX Resources:  gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, stalking, or intimate partner violence resources include: advocates on-call, counseling services, mutual no contact orders, scheduling adjustments and disciplinary sanctions. Sexual Misconduct Office 405-325-2215 (8-5, M-F) or OU Advocates 405-615-0013 (24/7).
  • Gender & Equality Center: http://www.ou.edu/gec
  • Writing Center: This class will involve a lot of writing. I encourage you to utilize the Writing Center on campus. You may call 325-2936 to make an appointment.  The Writing Center can provide assistance with pre-writing, organizing, citing sources, revising, etc.  This service is free and I encourage you utilize it.  You may visit their website at http://www.ou.edu/writingcenter/. 

 

 

*NOTE – This syllabus may be updated as necessary throughout the semester.

Week Date Readings
1 28-Aug Arnstein, Sherry R. 1969. A Ladder of Citizen Participation. American Institute of Planners Journal 35 (4):216-224.

Potts, Karen, and Leslie Brown. “Becoming an Anti-Oppressive Researcher.” In Research as Resistance: Critical, Indigenous and Anti-Oppressive Approaches, edited by Leslie Allison Brown and Susan Strega, 1–17. Toronto: Canadian Scholars’ Press, 2005.

McIntosh, P. “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack”. Peace and Freedom. 49(4): 10-12.

Irving, Debby. (2014). Waking up White: and finding myself in the story of race. Cambridge, MA, Elephant Room Press. Chapter 3.
2 4-Sep Smith, L. T. (2007). On tricky ground. The landscape of qualitative research

Tuck, E. (2009). Suspending damage: A letter to communities. Harvard Educational Review, 79(3), 409-428.
3 11-Sep Kim, Miho. “Foreword.” In Research Justice: Methodologies for Social Change, edited by Andrew Jolivétte, Bristol: Policy Press, 2015.

Kovach, Margaret. “Emerging from the Margins: Indigenous Methodologies.” In Research as Resistance: Critical, Indigenous, and Anti-Oppressive Approaches, edited by Leslie Brown and Susan Strega, 19–36. Toronto: Canadian Scholars’ Press, 2005.

Jolivétte, Andrew. “Radical Love as a Strategy for Social Transformation.” In Research Justice: Methodologies for Social Change, edited by Andrew Jolivétte, 5–12. Bristol: Policy Press, 2015.
4 18-Sep Smith, Linda Tuhiwai.
Decolonizing methodologies, 1-
97.
5 25-Sep Smith, Linda Tuhiwai. Decolonizing methodologies – Finish
6 2-Oct Wilson, Shawn, What is indigenous research methodology?
Canadian Journal of Native Education;
2001; 25, 2; Research is Ceremony
7 9-Oct Walter, Maggie, and Chris Andersen. Indigenous statistics: A quantitative research methodology. Left Coast Press, 2013.
8 16-Oct Power Analysis-TBA
9 23-Oct Map Biography -TBA
10 30-Oct Prouds/Sorries -TBA
11 6-Nov Asset Mapping-TBA
12 13-Nov Land As Kin-Harjo
13 20-Nov Survey-TBA
  27-Nov Holiday
14 4-Dec Zine-TBA
15 11-Dec Final Project Due