NAIS Courses and Electives – AY 2026-2027

Environmental Justice and Indigenous People (ES / GE)

This course examines the struggle against environmental destruction as fundamental to Indigenous experiences, tracing its history as a central feature of settler colonialism in the United States and globally. It focuses on Indigenous responses and decolonial strategies, and on the sometimes rocky relationship between Indigenous people and environmentalist movements. Students read works by Indigenous historians, environmental scholars, and activists, while also addressing real world environmental colonialism in the local community. Also serves as an elective for Environmental Studies. (4)

Introduction to Native American & Indigenous Studies (ES / GE)

Introduces students to the scope, methodologies, and intellectual traditions of Native American and Indigenous Studies, focusing on such topics as Indigeneity, settler colonialism, sovereignty, resilience, and the intersectionality of Indigeneity with gender and sexuality. May include community-based service learning components. (4)

Stories, Resistance & Resilience: World Indigenous Literatures (IT / GE)

Stories have an immense importance for Indigenous people globally and that importance is reflected in the many Indigenous literatures that have emerged since colonization. This course exposes students to Indigenous literature and critical approaches from around the world, helping them to understand why Indigenous literatures matter. (4)

Native American Theologies (VW / GE)

This course will examine Native American philosophies, rituals, and culture. Special attention will be paid to contemporary developments in the intersections between Christianity and Native religion.

Southern Lushootseed: Introduction to Oral Language (VW / GE)

Stories have an immense importance for Indigenous people globally and that importance is reflected in the many Indigenous literatures that have emerged since colonization. This course exposes students to Indigenous literature and critical approaches from around the world, helping them to understand why Indigenous literatures matter. (4)

Settler Colonialism, Ethnic Cleansing, and Genocide in Palestine

Healthcare Diversity

Focuses on core knowledge and competencies necessary to give culturally congruent care to people from diverse populations. Open to non-nursing students with instructor permission. (4)

Instructor: SarahAnn McFadden

Native American Religious Traditions (RL / VW / GE)

Introduction to a variety of Native American religious traditions, emphasizing the ways sacred traditions construct identity, promote individual and collective well-being, and respond to colonialism. Emphasis is also placed on notions of Indigenous religious traditions as expressions of a people’s relationship with place, traditional ecological knowledge, and Indigenous ecological ethics. (4)

Indigenous Traditions of the Pacific Northwest

This course explores the religious and cultural diversity of Indigenous communities in the Pacific Northwest, from Alaska to northern California, and east to northern Idaho. Emphasis is placed on the history and impacts of colonialism; the relationship between Indigenous people and place as reflected in food systems, ceremonies, visual arts, and oral traditions; and the relevance of traditional ecological knowledge in addressing environmental concerns. (4)

Instructor: Suzanne Crawford-O’Brien

Southern Lushootseed: Oral Language Dialogue (VW / GE)

Continuing development of basic vocabulary, grammar, and speaking, with additional emphasis on dialogue. The course also further develops students’ understanding of the cultural contexts of Southern Lushootseed language. (4)