A popular saying in various parts of Latin America is that "Mexicans descended from Aztecs, Peruvians descended from Incas, and Argentines descended from boats," which posits that some countries construct their identities in relationship to pre-Colombian indigenous histories, and others to processes of immigration. Who gets excluded from the national body in these framings? And how have those marginalized groups sought to create more inclusive conceptions of citizenship and belonging? To answer these questions — which trace their roots to Latin America’s colonial period, took on contentious implications during the independence era, and remain at the heart of contemporary discourse throughout the region — this course will guide students through an examination of historical documents, scholarly analyses, and various forms of cultural production.