This course will explore Indigenous attitudes and discursive practices during the process of European colonization of the Americas. While centering Indigenous perspectives, we will also discuss the creation of “Indian” as a racial category during the colonial period, and how the term is both historically determined and ever evolving. How did the original inhabitants of this continent choose to self-represent in the face of unprecedented violence and dispossession? What discursive practices did they adopt to understand, describe, and adapt to these new realities, as well as preserve their cultural heritage? With a focus on Maya, Nahua, and Quechua literature and art, we will see how cultural expression is intricately related to social, political, and economic issues. We will close with an overview of significant early Indigenous rebellions that challenged the legitimacy of the Spanish Empire and continue to inspire current Indigenous struggles for self-determination.