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.

Did I sell my soul?

Posted on February 22, 2014 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Did I sell my soul? Each month a maid service spends two hours cleaning our house. This frees us from vacuuming, wiping, swiping, dusting and sweeping, and puts some cash into workers’ pockets.

Posted in authenticity, writing | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Skip the mammogram? Not so fast

Posted on February 17, 2014 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

A study just published found no difference in deaths among women who had an annual mammogram and women who had none over 5 years, from 1980 to 1985, in Canada. Problem is, some women may think they should now skip … Continue reading →

Posted in health, native press, Native Science, neuroscience, news bias, science, science communication, should I get a mammogram, Should I refuse a mammogram, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Just another addict

Posted on February 7, 2014 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

About a year ago a smart and cheeky piece on addiction changed my perspective. The last time I thought about taking heroin was yesterday, wrote Russell Brand in 2013. Sober and drug-clean for a decade, Brand talks with self-deprecating humor … Continue reading →

Posted in framing, native american, native press, Native Science | Tagged | 1 Comment

By the Numbers

Posted on February 3, 2014 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

It’s all in the numbers. Let’s say you want to conduct a national survey of American voters and you want to make sure that you’ve heard from minority groups. National pollsters who interview voters will survey about 1200 people. That’s … Continue reading →

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Vanishing Race

Posted on January 31, 2014 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

When our girls were little we travelled up and down the Oregon and California coasts to visit relatives. One day we stopped at a tourist outpost in the redwoods. The outpost sold American Indian jewelry and crafts manufactured in Taiwan—not … Continue reading →

Posted in american indian, authenticity, framing, Indian, Indian relocation, manifest destiny, native american, native press, Native Science | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Toys of Genocide

Posted on January 26, 2014 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Michael Yellow Bird brings up a good point. You can still find packets of plastic cowboys and Indians and play shoot ‘em up to your heart’s content. “You can buy toys of genocide,” Yellow Bird told a standing-room-only crowd this … Continue reading →

Posted in authenticity, framing, Humboldt State University, Indian, journalism, Michael Yellow Bird, native press, science, science communication, writing | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Cultivate your gut

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

Crossing the street in downtown Colombo I snapped a picture of the pedestrian sign. Looks like the fellow is cultivating his gut.

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Eat with your hands

Posted on January 3, 2014 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

We practiced for our vacation in Sri Lanka by eating with our hands. My sweetheart polished off meals like a native. But me? I packed a plastic fork. The typical Sri Lankan meal, called rice curry, features at the centerpiece … Continue reading →

Posted in authenticity, Indian, native american, native press, Native Science | Tagged | 1 Comment

What did you accomplish in 2013?

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

We still receive holiday cards. And I still send them. Cards are a way to keep in touch with friends we talk to only occasionally. We were a bit lazy this year: we posted our greetings, sent calendars, but failed … Continue reading →

Posted in american indian, authenticity, Indian, Lakota, native american, native press, Native Science, Osage | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Narcissistic norms

Posted on December 31, 2013 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Growing up abroad we learned to respect local customs. As kids we were instructed to withhold judgment—that our Western lenses don’t always allow a clear vision. I spent my adolescence in the third world, where women cloaked their bodies and … Continue reading →

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