ABSTRACT
This chapter interrogates the dynamics of conservatism as they play out in American Indian Studies classrooms in our predominantly White institution in the Rocky Mountain region, and to suggest ways of fostering critical consciousness in students in the face of an antisocial justice ethos. Conservative worldviews dominate Wyoming's legislature, which in turn affect the decisions of our institution's board of trustees and administration, and ultimately find outlet in student attitudes in the classroom. The challenges facing faculty of color in predominantly White institutions in conservative states include navigating extremely stereotypical attitudes towards minorities, outright hostility toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) persons and issues, as well as strong White normalization and a neoliberal perspective on education wherein education is consumer product rather than a path to enlightenment. Ultimately, conservatism views social justice through a negative lens, and thus, we often have to redefine social justice so our students recognize its underlying positive framework.
