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.

Exterminating Indian Identity

Posted on May 24, 2012 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Soon I will be bound for Phoenix to present a paper on American Indian identity and authenticity: a topic of keen interest. Critics often complain about Indian stereotypes, ranging from the issues surrounding sports mascots to non-Indians playing Native roles … Continue reading →

Posted in authenticity, cinema, ethics, film, human origin, Kennewick Man, Native Science, repatriation, science, writing | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Indian Mascots on the Agenda

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Oregon media are twitterpatted over the school mascot issue. Really? Too much hand-wringing, too late. Naming school sports teams Redskins, Indians, Braves and Chiefs has long been on the radar of American Indian activists: hardly a new issue. But in … Continue reading →

Posted in authenticity, ethics, framing, Indian, journalism | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

John Sayles Sighting

Posted on May 13, 2012 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

My trip to New York included a John Sayles sighting. And it’s not the first one. Sayles, who is among cinema’s most thoughtful filmmakers, came to Portland last year to talk about his book, A Moment in the Sun, set … Continue reading →

Posted in authenticity, cinema, journalism, writing | Tagged | 2 Comments

New York City

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Made my first trip to New York City last weekend. How is it possible for someone with Ithaca bragging rights to avoid the Big City? My only excuse is that I was focused on academics and the kids were little … Continue reading →

Posted in authenticity, writing | Tagged | 1 Comment

When Science is Exclusive

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

I did a quick double-take while researching a chapter for my book on science and culture. It’s like those visual double-take games in magazines, when they put two pictures side by side and you’re supposed to find the discrepancies from … Continue reading →

Posted in authenticity, framing, health, Indian, journalism, Native Science, science, science communication | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Home is Where the Heart is

Posted on April 26, 2012 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Responses to my conversations about place yielded comments from friends about home being where you find your heart. When I read Native scholars like Vine Deloria Jr. I am struck by his thoughts that culture—“behavior, beliefs, values and symbols” quite … Continue reading →

Posted in authenticity, health, Indian, science, science communication | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Porn and the Eye of the Beholder

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

An information campaign raised public ire when it produced a billboard that shocked some viewers. The poster shows a woman without clothing, her breasts (all four) hooked to a pump. She’s on her hands and knees, reflecting the imagery of … Continue reading →

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The Sofa Drove Home

Posted on April 20, 2012 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

How do we explain the inexplicable? Sometimes my honey and I think the same thoughts. It’s not creepy: in fact, it’s reassuring to share something substantive that dips below the surface. My Apache pal says there are no coincidences.

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Ass Cover

Posted on April 20, 2012 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Today I’m departing from my usual banter about science. And Indians. And ways-of-knowing. My readers give me permission from time-to-time to lapse into narrative, and I am grateful for the opportunity to wax personal. Wey-wee-nah (thank you). My honey and … Continue reading →

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Pack my Suitcase with Rocks

Posted on April 17, 2012 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Know how sometimes you can hear something a million times but it doesn’t resonate until, one day, it connects? As an academic I’ve been studying the meaning of “place” in American Indian ways-of-knowing from a distant, theoretical perspective. Trying to … Continue reading →

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