Native American Voices highlights the significance of Native American Studies in the college educational experience. Students will be able to describe how U.S. policies have evolved and continue to influence Indigenous peoples' ways of life. They will also be able to cite various contemporary Native issues, showing how these are rooted in external non-Indigenous values and policies. Additionally, students will understand that, despite shared values among Indigenous peoples, there is notable diversity among Native nations.
Previous editions of the book have served introductory students in Native American Studies in a way that has been inviting, exploratory, and informative, opening doors to deeper learning. We aim to continue this tradition by including new voices, perspectives, and critical works in the field. We are at a time in history when standing our ground and advancing Indigenous understandings is integral to our collective future. The book is intended to embrace learners' willingness to deepen their consciousness by centering Native resilience, experiences, knowledge systems, and the impacts of sociopolitical histories.
The primary audience for this book is introduction to Native and American Indian Studies college students and could also be used in 200 level courses that focus on Native/Indigenous issues. The book, we hope, will also be of interest to community members, leaders, and organizers, as well as to any citizen concerned with truth and making informed decisions.