This class will introduce students to some of critical issues facing Native communities today with a focus on law, policy, and social sciences. In particular, this class will focus on the historical and present-day dynamics of colonialism in Native communities. We will also look at patterns of resistance against colonialism, particularly as they become articulated as struggles for Native sovereignty. The first section will provide an historical context for understanding the present-day dynamics of colonialism/sovereignty. The second half of the class will explore these dynamics through key areas of struggle, including land rights, environmentalism, economic development, religious freedom, health, and violence.