Reservation-Based Community-Determined: Contemporary Indian Communities in Global Society
Last Updated: 10/14/2009
Fall, Winter and Spring quarters
Faculty: Michelle Aguilar-Wells public administration, political science, TBA Muckleshoot, TBA Quinault, TBA Tulalip, TBA Nisqually, Gina Corpuz education
Academic web site: www.evergreen.edu/tribal
Faculty Signature Required: New students must submit an intake interview form signed by the program director or site faculty. No signature is required of students continuing in the program from the previous year, from students who are transferring from the Grays Harbor Bridge Program or from Northwest Indian College with an AA direct transfer degree.
Major areas of study include indigenous political science and history, intergovernmental relationships, leadership, literature, economic, cultural, and environmental sustainability and management within a global context.
Class Standing: Juniors or seniors; transfer students welcome.
Accepts Winter Enrollment: This program accepts new enrollment with formal admission into the RBCD program.
Accepts Spring Enrollment: This program accepts new enrollment with formal admission into the RBCD program.
Prerequisites: AA direct transfer degree or 90 credits equivalent.
The Reservation-Based Community-Determined (RBCD) program is an upper-division program designed specifically for students residing on or connected to reservations. Students meet two evenings a week at a tribal site to build and sustain a learning community at the reservation. In addition, students from all sites meet four Saturdays per quarter for classes at the Longhouse. Tribes help to design the curriculum by addressing the question, "What does an educated tribal member need to know in order to contribute to their community?" The RBCD interdisciplinary approach allows students to participate in seminar, participatory research, and study their individual areas of interest while meeting the challenges and topics identified by the tribes.
The 2010-11 academic year theme is Contemporary Indians in a Global Society. In fall, students will engage in work that allows them to understand the historical, cultural, legal and intergovernmental relationship between the tribes as Sovereign Governments and the United States. In winter, they will examine leadership qualities through history, literature and within tribal settings, as they begin to look for applications to the global society. In spring, they will study economic, cultural and environmental sustainability and management within a global context. Students will also have opportunities for independent work and study as well as 1-2 credit strands on a broad range of topics including, art, theater, literature, writing and management.
Credits: 12 per quarter
Enrollment: 80
Special Expenses: Travel costs to and from campus for the Saturday classes.
Program is preparatory for careers and future studies in government, tribal and public services, American Indian studies, and political science.
Planning Units: Native American and World Indigenous Peoples' Studies