Indigenous literature, art, and music highlight the diversity and activism of Native peoples in the United States and emphasize their continued influence in the world today. This course brings together works by Indigenous authors, artists, and musicians—spanning literature, music, and visual art—to explore the contemporary issues and complex histories shaping their communities, including sovereignty and land rights, environmental justice, cultural preservation, media representation, and life on and beyond reservations. The course includes selections from the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the Peabody Essex Museum, as well as works shaped by the lens of Indigenous Futurism. Throughout the course, participants engage in reflection and guided activities that support purposeful consideration of how these works can be used in classroom settings.

This course is a continuation of the Indigenous Expressions course that was offered in March 2026. In this session we will continue to meet authors, artists, and musicians who use their work to express their identities and share their perspectives on the contemporary issues and complex histories shaping their communities, such as sovereignty and land rights, environmental justice, cultural preservation, media representation, and life on and beyond reservations. Art in this session will include items from the collections of the MFA and Peabody Essex Museum. 

Participants in Indigenous Expressions Part II will join the full Indigenous Expressions course on July 21st, after the first 2 weeks have been completed.