Monthly Archives: November 2014

Embracing the Crow

Posted on November 11, 2014 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

In summer and fall mornings a flock of crows—a murder of crows—flies over our roof, headed north toward the Columbia River. We reckon they’re flying toward food. They shout at one another and sometimes a sentinel squats in a high … Continue reading →

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Who Deserves a Proper Burial?

Posted on November 10, 2014 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

My work discussing the bones of American Indians doesn’t spring from a morbid fascination with the dead. Instead I am interested in the biopolitics about bones and how conversations emerge about human remains. Biopolitics refers to the infusion of politics … Continue reading →

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Black Hawk’s Skull

Posted on November 8, 2014 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Science is often deployed to meet political ends but we don’t always recognize when. Phrenology emerged as a pseudo-scientific way to define race through empirical means. Scientists used painstaking measurements to show how the landscape of the skull—its ridges and … Continue reading →

Posted in american indian, authenticity, Black Hawk, framing, Indian, journalism, Native Science, phrenology, science, science communication, Uncategorized, writing | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

All in Your Head

Posted on November 6, 2014 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

I’ve been exploring how science has affected policies and attitudes regarding American Indians. We know that reservation life and boarding schools weighed heavily on Native peoples. Few, however, have spent time uncovering how science has been deployed to serve political … Continue reading →

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Science and Trust: What’s Rational?

Posted on November 5, 2014 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

The disenfranchised among us have a history of distrusting science. Some scientists just don’t get it: how can you overlook evolution? Climate change? Diabetes? Native Americans—and African-Americans and Hispanics—can point to specific examples when the mantle of science caused harm.

Posted in american indian, authenticity, framing, Indian, journalism, Native Science, science, science communication, Uncategorized, writing | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Dammit, Jim, I’m a Doctor, Not a Scientist

Posted on November 4, 2014 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

The refrain from the original Star Trek physician, Bones, has arisen like Lazarus from the mortuary of old TV shows. But this time it’s politicians. When asked their opinions of, say, climate change, politicians of late have demurred. “I’m not … Continue reading →

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Tobacco Cure

Posted on November 2, 2014 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

The question was innocent enough. My beloved asked me where the expression, “Blowing smoke up your arse” comes from. Thanks to the internet the answer came swiftly. The story begins in Indian Country (as all stories do during Native American … Continue reading →

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Bring Back the Bones

Posted on November 1, 2014 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

November marks National Native American Heritage Month, and I pledge to write a blog a day. Here’s the first. Heritage Month was inaugurated in 1990 by President George H. W. Bush, the same year he signed NAGPRA. While National Native … Continue reading →

Posted in american indian, Geronimo, Indian, Indian relocation, Indian remains, manifest destiny, native american, native press, Native Science, Redskins, repatriation, rhetoric, writing | Tagged , | 2 Comments