Category Archives: communication

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

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

Think critically

Posted on February 23, 2015 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

When a politician recently ranted that universities shouldn’t be concerned with truth but rather serving the workforce, critics sharpened their pencils. The governor of Wisconsin, Scott Walker, wants to gut support by 13% and refashion higher education’s mission in his … Continue reading →

Posted in american indian, communication, education, Native Science, science, scott walker | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

I didn’t grow up in your country

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

Sometimes my college students need to set me straight about schooling in North America. I didn’t grow up in your country, I confess. Students scratch their heads: how can you be part American Indian and be from somewhere else?

Posted in american indian, communication, Dutch, family values, Holland, native american, native press, Native Science, writing | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Uncle Silverback

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

Uncles are important in my family. My mother had two brothers and my father had four, and uncles would hang out at our house, bringing doughnuts and helping with weekend chores. In the Osage language the word for father is … Continue reading →

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Name your demon

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

I heard a comic declare, “no good story ever began with the phrase I was eating a salad.” My story begins in the bathroom, not at the dinner table. I was lounging in a hot bath and catching up on … Continue reading →

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