Instructor: Tiajuana Cochnauer’s experience understanding U.S. policies toward American Indians was gained by teaching a required undergraduate course at Washington State University on treaties, serving as Acting Director of the Office of Tribal Relations for the entire USDA Forest Service and being a voting non-resident member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Description: We will attempt the impossible task of briefly reviewing history, significant legislation and regulations, and the status of 574 Federally Recognized Tribes (FRT), and State Recognized Tribes in three sessions. Discussion is encouraged as we explore the following: Session 1: Indian Country with the arrival of immigrants and settlement. From first contact with Europeans in the 1500s, we’ll highlight the effects of formation of the U. S. Session 2: "Should we blame Andrew Jackson? Assimilation, Trail of Tears, the Long Walk, boarding schools, citizenship, and military service are key concepts in this session. Session 3: Life since the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934. Sovereignty status of the 574FRT following the dissolution of tribal governments. Indian Country today.