Author Archives: Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

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About Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Professor and researcher who studies science communication, particularly issues that impact American Indians. Dr. Coleman is an enrolled citizen of the Osage Nation.

Indians under glass

Posted on April 30, 2015 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

The Indian exhibit currently underway at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City takes an unexpected turn. The Plains Indians: Artists of Earth and Sky assumes a soft approach. There’s an Osage pipe, a beaded dress from the … Continue reading →

Posted in american indian, authenticity, framing, Indian, Indian relocation, Metropolitan Museum of Art, native american, Native American Heritage Month, native press, Native Science, Osage, Plains Indians: Artists of Earth and Sky, propaganda, repatriation | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Blinded by perspective

Posted on April 16, 2015 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Ninety years ago John Noel joined a group of determined mountaineers to capture on film their adventures climbing Mount Everest. Noel’s 1924 silent film has been refreshed and recently celebrated a North West premiere to a packed house. And while … Continue reading →

Posted in american indian, authenticity, cinema, epic of everest, Francis Parkman, george mallory | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Do ancestors deserve respect?

Posted on April 12, 2015 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

I didn’t expect to find a full house Friday night for an hour-long, black-and-white, silent movie from the 1920s. But Portlanders came in droves to see the West Coast premiere of a newly restored, colorized version of John Noel’s hand-cranked … Continue reading →

Posted in american indian, authenticity, epic of everest, everest, framing, george mallory, Indian, Kennewick Man, native american, Native Science, science, science communication, writing | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Missing truths

Posted on April 3, 2015 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Originally posted on Cynthia (Ištá Tȟó Tȟó) Coleman Emery's Blog:
Lithograph of Junipera Serra and subjects As a kid growing up in Southern California (we moved overseas when I was 10) we visited missions that dot the west,…

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When is a person not a person?

Posted on March 24, 2015 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

  There’s a Buddhist story where the sage tells her pupils about a master craftsman who creates artisan carriages. She describes the carriages in detail, from the quality of the polished wood to the smoothness of the wheels. But what … Continue reading →

Posted in authenticity, communication, Indian, Indian remains, native american, native press, Native Science, repatriation, science communication, writing | Tagged | 3 Comments

Crazy Horse’s Law

Posted on March 20, 2015 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Maybe we should call it Crazy Horse’s Law. Mainstream North American culture brings some truths that we all acknowledge but rarely question. Take Murphy’s Law. The suspicious part of our shared-American cultural nature presumes that no matter how much we … Continue reading →

Posted in american indian, authenticity, crazy horse, Indian, Indian remains, murphys law, native american, native press, Native Science, science, science communication | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Take Viagra with your politics

Posted on March 10, 2015 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

How fitting. Today’s breaking news story about a clutch of Republicans who defied reason and protocol by sending a letter to Iran’s leaders without Congress, the Senate, or the President’s sanction is accompanied by an ad for Viagra. When I … Continue reading →

Posted in framing, journalism, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Beware the sales pitch

Posted on March 6, 2015 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

We can learn a lot from used-car sales folks. Noted psychologist Robert Cialdini urges his students to study the techniques used that entice you to buy. Go to a used-car lot and see how the seller pitches the product, Cialdini … Continue reading →

Posted in cialdini, heuristics, Native Science, sales, science communication | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Be careful when you grab the gold

Posted on March 5, 2015 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

There’s a lot of eye-rolling when you teach theory to college students. I get it. Students want to discover the practical matters of communication. Business. Success. I assure them they’ll thank me later. Eyes roll. Recently I heard from a … Continue reading →

Posted in affordable care, american indian, communication, education, health insurance, native press, Native Science | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Sounds deadly

Posted on February 27, 2015 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

I can see the scenario unfold: The desk sergeant asks the officer what happened. “Granola. Crunchy granola,” the officer states. Seems a couple had a fight and the husband was stabbed with a spoon. The wife couldn’t take it anymore. … Continue reading →

Posted in family values, misonphonia, native press, Native Science, writing | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment