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.

When words aren’t what they seem

How fortuitous that Native American Heritage Month comes at a time when I’ve been invited to write a book chapter about my work in Native Science. Below I’ve woven together words that describe what I do for the book’s editors … Continue reading

Posted in american indian, authenticity, ethics, framing, human origin, Indian, Kennewick Man, NAGPRA, native american, Native Science, neuroscience, repatriation, salmon, science, science communication | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

It’s in the name

Beloved and I traipsed down to the county office this week to fill out the forms, show our identification cards and hand over 60 bucks for an Oregon marriage license. The clerk asked if I wanted to change my name. … Continue reading

Posted in american indian, authenticity, Indian, Lakota, native american, native press, Native Science, writing | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Depends where you look

I realize talking with relatives who live on the rez that it all depends on your perspective. The path differs from one intersection to the next. For example, elderly relatives were dissuaded in their youth from showing segments of their … Continue reading

Posted in american indian, authenticity, Indian, native american, native press, Native Science, Osage | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Return to tradition

We arrived just in time for the last few songs at a November gathering in Gray Horse under the scaffold of the newly built roundhouse. Drummers kept a beat while dancers circled under the arbor as a cool breeze invited … Continue reading

Posted in american indian, Indian, Indian relocation, journalism, Kennewick Man, Lakota, native american, native press, Native Science, writing | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Roadkill

Dog. Opossum. Raccoon. Armadillo. We counted roadkill on the Oklahoma roads. An armadillo lay belly-up, with only the curve of its shell terra-bound. As we passed the armadillo a bald eagle circled ahead, making slow moons above the armored animal … Continue reading

Posted in american indian, authenticity, Indian, Indian relocation, native american, native press, Native Science, Osage, writing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Home away from home

What better way to greet Native American Heritage Month than by travelling to the rez? My beloved and I are headed to Oklahoma and he will have his first opportunity to see my Osage relatives. If it weren’t for my … Continue reading

Posted in american indian, Indian relocation, native american, native press, Osage | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Write

I welcome the chance to beef up my blog in November. Native American Heritage Month beckons me, and, starting last year, I wrote a blog a day in November. The idea of “once a day” comes from Suzan-Lori Parks: a … Continue reading

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Anderson Cooper: 29 across

Combing the web earlier this week I was looking for squibs on Anderson Cooper. Cooper enlivened crowds in Portland, talking shop on news and reporting. My job was to introduce him to students and faculty for an informal question-and-answer session.

Posted in framing, Indian, journalism, michael clakr, Native Science, science, science communication, writing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

And one for Wakonta

You just can’t find good coffee outside Portland. That’s a fib. We found tasty java in New York. But Istanbul? Paris? Rapid City?

Posted in american indian, Indian, Lakota, native american, native press, Native Science, Osage, Portland | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Java tales

Returning to Portland after a jaunt to the East Coast put coffee in perspective. Our hunt for New Jersey java focused our activities. Each morning we watched as the beach denizens, robed in shorts and sweatshirts, bellied up to the … Continue reading

Posted in american indian, Henri Chatillion, journalism, native american, native press, Native Science | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments