Watch Native Peoples of North America

Name: Native Peoples of North America
Genre: Documentary & Biography
Released: 2016-10-21
Cast: Daniel Cobb

2016
1 Season

Native Peoples of North America is an educational and insightful show from The Great Courses Signature Collection that invites viewers to explore the complex histories and cultures of the indigenous peoples of North America. Presented by Daniel Cobb, a professor of American Indian Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, this series is a comprehensive overview of the history, tradition, and contemporary issues facing indigenous peoples in North America. Throughout the series, Daniel Cobb introduces viewers to the many different cultures and traditions of Native American communities across the continent, including the Plains, Southwest, Northeast, and Northwest regions. With a deep understanding of the diversity of Native American cultures, Daniel explores the rich history that has shaped these communities over time, from the arrival of European settlers to contemporary issues surrounding sovereignty, identity, and cultural preservation. The show begins with an introduction to the concept of "indian" and how this term has been historically used to oppress and marginalize indigenous peoples. Daniel explains how the term "indian" is a colonial construct that has been imposed on Native American communities and how the diversity and complexity of these communities makes it impossible to accurately describe them with a single label. From there, the show delves into the history of indigenous peoples in North America, including their complex relationships with European settlers, their efforts to resist colonization and preserve their cultures, and the many struggles they have faced in the years since colonization. Daniel covers many key topics in this series, including the impact of the Dawes Act on Native American communities, the rise of the American Indian Movement, and the ongoing struggle for sovereignty and self-determination in today's world. One of the greatest strengths of this series is how it provides a platform for indigenous voices and perspectives throughout history. Rather than focusing solely on colonial perspectives, Daniel incorporates traditional stories, songs, and artwork as a way to explore the complex relationships between Native American communities and the land, animals, and spirits that have been so central to their cultures for thousands of years. Viewers who are new to Native American history and culture will gain a deep understanding of the complexity and diversity of these communities, and how their histories intersect with larger historical events like colonialism, slavery, and the civil rights movement. Through his compassionate and thoughtful presentation, Daniel Cobb educates viewers on the triumphs and challenges of Native peoples of North America and helps them understand the importance of protecting and preserving this cultural legacy for future generations. Overall, Native Peoples of North America is an excellent series that provides a much-needed perspective on the rich and complex histories of indigenous peoples in North America. By inviting viewers to explore the culture, traditions, and history of these communities, Daniel Cobb offers a sensitive and nuanced view of the challenges and triumphs of indigenous peoples throughout history, and highlights the ongoing struggles and triumphs they face today. This is a must-watch series for anyone who wants to gain a deeper understanding of Native American cultures and histories, and its educational value cannot be overstated.

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Seasons

24. Reasserting Rights and Tribal Sovereignty

October 21, 2016

Professor Cobb reveals how tribal nations haven't settled for survival alone. We're still in the midst of an era of recovery and revitalization, one that has tested the limits of individual rights and tribal sovereignty. He'll follow a few of the critical sites of contemporary struggle.

23. Native Radicalism and Reform, 1969-1978

October 21, 2016

The late 1960s and early 1970s saw the efflorescence of American Indian militancy, beginning with the occupation of Alcatraz Island in 1969, to the Trail of Broken Treaties in November 1972 and the Wounded Knee occupation in 1973. Professor Cobb demonstrates how Native American activism intersected with the mainstream movements of the time.

22. Indian Termination or Self-Determination?

October 21, 2016

Explore American Indian experiences during the early Cold War period, when loyalties were often questioned. Native Americans used the politics of the Cold War era to define freedom through the 1950s and 1960s. Nationalism and decolonization then surfaced as conflicts over fishing rights brought the struggle over Native American treaty rights back into the foreground of American consciousness.

21. American Indians and World War II

January 21, 2021

Move from World War I and the turbulent 1930s to World War II to learn how the war and onset of the atomic age transformed the lives of Native Americans. While the challenges and opportunities faced by Native Americans paralleled the ones faced by many other Americans, you'll learn how the outcomes proved to be vastly different. And you'll discover Native American heroes of the War.

20. Making a New Deal in Native America

October 21, 2016

Uncover some of the hidden histories of the period between the late 1920s and early 1940s as you learn how Native Americans set about making a New Deal for themselves and their communities during an era of uncertainty and convulsive change for the nation at large. You'll also get an introduction to the Indian New Deal.

19. American Indians and World War I

October 21, 2016

Explore Native Americans' involvement in World War I and how it changed the meaning of citizenship and sovereignty in the beginning of the 20th century. Examine why Native soldiers fought in all of the major offensives after America's entry into the war, defending a country that was hostile to tribal sovereignty and also reluctant to extend US citizenship to Native people.

18. Native America in the Early 1900s

October 21, 2016

Discover how Native Americans confounded the late 19th- and early 20th-century predictions about their inevitable disappearance by getting involved in very public arenas, becoming political actors and writers, artists, and athletes. Professor Cobb examines their actions through four concepts: expectation, anomaly, the unexpected, and authenticity.

17. The Ghost Dance and the Peyote Road

October 21, 2016

Professor Cobb explores how many Native people took matters into their own hands and gained a renewed sense of place, harmony, and balance through two religious movements: The Ghost Dance (often misperceived as the last gasp of resistance before the Indians' final vanishing act) and the Peyote Road (a critically important pathway to peace, reconciliation, and belonging).

16. American Indians and the Law, 1883-1903

October 21, 2016

Violence and war were not the only options. Even after the alleged "last Indian wars," Native Americans continued to fight for their rights and lands through the same legal system that had worked towards displacing them. You'll review three critical court cases, and meet leaders such as Standing Bear and Lone Wolf who continued to seek justice and defend tribal sovereignty.

15. Challenging Assimilation and Allotment

October 21, 2016

Discover how Native Americans adjusted to or refused to give in to the extraordinary challenges and changes they faced during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, specifically the federal government's deliberate and multifaceted effort to dismantle tribal lands and obliterate tribal cultures through allotment and assimilation.

14. The Last Indian Wars?

October 21, 2016

Focusing on the Far West, Southwest, and Plateau regions, Professor Cobb examines early laws put in place in California to "control" Native Americans during the gold rush, including state funding to kill or enslave Native Americans. You'll also meet the "real" Geronimo and learn how he came to symbolize the Chiricahua Apache struggle.

13. Native Resistance in the West, 1850s-1870s

October 21, 2016

Delve deeper into the struggle for lands in the Plains between the 1850s and the 1870s. You'll meet the fighters you've heard of, such as Sitting Bull, as well as those you may not have heard about, such as the Hunkpapa Gall. You'll also see the negative repercussions of the 1869 completion of the Transcontinental Railroad.

12. Indians, Manifest Destiny, and Uncivil Wars

October 21, 2016

The Civil War is a turning point in American history, upholding the Constitutional promises of freedom for...some. Examine one of the pivotal components of the decades leading up to the Civil War: expansion into the West under the doctrine of Manifest Destiny, which drew non-Indians into the West and sparked innumerable conflicts with Native nations.

11. Native Transformations on the Great Plains

October 21, 2016

From John Wayne to Dances with Wolves, we are presented a very distinct view of Native Americans in the West. Professor Cobb presents a profoundly different perspective. Learn about Lewis and Clark's "discovery" of a West that was an established home for thousands people and the three factors that drove more change than anything else: guns, horses, and disease.

10. Indian Removal: Many Trails, Many Tears

October 21, 2016

One of the most well-known and dramatic stories in American history is that of the Cherokee nation and the Trail of Tears. Professor Cobb reveals the story behind the story: one of two nations emerging and transforming, during which legal battles, political manipulations, and a clash between the ill-defined limits of federal and state jurisdiction and tribal sovereignty.

9. Indian Resistance in the Ohio Country

October 21, 2016

Explore how the 1783 Treaty of Paris, which settled the American Revolutionary War between England and the colonists, brought no peace to Native Americans. Programs that were instituted during this period to help Native nations become self-sufficient (such as "expansion with honor" or establishing reservations) ultimately had the opposite effect.

8. The American Revolution through Native Eyes

October 21, 2016

Examine three ways Native Americans experienced the American Revolution: as allies, as participants in their own civil wars, and as neutral parties. For many Native Americans, the resolution of the American Revolution held little meaning: There would be no liberty for them under the rule of the colonists or the Crown.

7. The Seven Years' War in Indian Country

October 21, 2016

The French and Indian War is often portrayed in history as a crucial turning point for Native nations in the East. For some, it served as a victory, for others, a defeat. And for a greater number still it had no immediate impact on their lives. This episode will change the storyline you've heard by exploring the perspectives of Native people who experienced the era quite differently.

6. Indian-European Encounters, 1700-1750

October 21, 2016

Through an exploration of the Iroquois Confederacy and the Lenape (or Delaware) people in the Northeast, the Great Lakes region, and the Southeast, learn how Native Americans kept or lost their lands through treaties, war, and negotiations. In many cases, the repercussions of these conflicts sometimes went beyond relocation, resulting in enslavement or near annihilation.

5. Iroquoia and Wendake in the 1600s

October 21, 2016

Once Europeans arrived, the Native peoples of the Northeast were determined to maintain their autonomy, despite becoming more integrated with the newcomers. Focusing on the strategies and experiences of the Wendat and Iroquois, you'll understand how Native Americans transformed the European colonial project while preserving a measured separatism.

4. Werowocomoco and Montaup in the 1600s

October 21, 2016

Dr. Cobb demonstrates how connections were forged between Native Americans and newcomers as they incorporated each other into their worlds. In doing so, both cultures were transformed. You'll examine specific examples across the Northeastern Woodlands down to Werowocomoco to understand how the search for common ground began at first contact and still exists today.

3. The Native South and Southwest in the 1600s

October 21, 2016

Examine the cultures that existed prior to the Spanish Invasion, the struggle for power through Hernando de Soto's entrada through the Southeast, and the Pueblo War for Independence in the Southwest. Dr. Cobb introduces the Native American worlds that were born in the aftermath of these transformative events.

2. The Columbian Exchange: New Worlds for All

October 21, 2016

Explore how the misleading dichotomy of "Old World" and "New World" has impacted perceptions of Native Americans for decades. Delve into the "Columbian Exchange," which is the crux behind the creation of "new worlds for all" and learn about the enduring ramifications these processes had in shaping everything from the fauna and flora to the cuisines of the world.

1. Native America: A Story of Survival

October 21, 2016

Begin by comparing the commonly held views of Native Americans to the realities of what was, and still is, a tapestry of rich and vibrant cultures. Professor Cobb explains the pitfalls that occur when history doesn't provide this crucial viewpoint, and will break down the fallacies that result from the common mistake of consigning Native Americans to the past. #History

Description

Throughout the series, Daniel Cobb introduces viewers to the many different cultures and traditions of Native American communities across the continent, including the Plains, Southwest, Northeast, and Northwest regions. With a deep understanding of the diversity of Native American cultures, Daniel explores the rich history that has shaped these communities over time, from the arrival of European settlers to contemporary issues surrounding sovereignty, identity, and cultural preservation.

The show begins with an introduction to the concept of "indian" and how this term has been historically used to oppress and marginalize indigenous peoples. Daniel explains how the term "indian" is a colonial construct that has been imposed on Native American communities and how the diversity and complexity of these communities makes it impossible to accurately describe them with a single label.

From there, the show delves into the history of indigenous peoples in North America, including their complex relationships with European settlers, their efforts to resist colonization and preserve their cultures, and the many struggles they have faced in the years since colonization. Daniel covers many key topics in this series, including the impact of the Dawes Act on Native American communities, the rise of the American Indian Movement, and the ongoing struggle for sovereignty and self-determination in today's world.

One of the greatest strengths of this series is how it provides a platform for indigenous voices and perspectives throughout history. Rather than focusing solely on colonial perspectives, Daniel incorporates traditional stories, songs, and artwork as a way to explore the complex relationships between Native American communities and the land, animals, and spirits that have been so central to their cultures for thousands of years.

Viewers who are new to Native American history and culture will gain a deep understanding of the complexity and diversity of these communities, and how their histories intersect with larger historical events like colonialism, slavery, and the civil rights movement. Through his compassionate and thoughtful presentation, Daniel Cobb educates viewers on the triumphs and challenges of Native peoples of North America and helps them understand the importance of protecting and preserving this cultural legacy for future generations.

Overall, Native Peoples of North America is an excellent series that provides a much-needed perspective on the rich and complex histories of indigenous peoples in North America. By inviting viewers to explore the culture, traditions, and history of these communities, Daniel Cobb offers a sensitive and nuanced view of the challenges and triumphs of indigenous peoples throughout history, and highlights the ongoing struggles and triumphs they face today. This is a must-watch series for anyone who wants to gain a deeper understanding of Native American cultures and histories, and its educational value cannot be overstated.