Category Archives: native american

Where the state tree is a telephone pole

The state tree is a telephone pole, he joked. Zig Jackson (Mandan) began his story at the beginning: growing up in Fort Berthold, North Dakota. Few trees and a lot of telephone poles in that part of the state, he … Continue reading

Posted in american indian, authenticity, family values, Geronimo, Indian, native american, native press, Portland Art Musem, Zig Jackson | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

A gathering of minds: Indian style

Our conference in Albuquerque focused on narratives and how they shape meaning. Students and scholars from across the United States and Canada—most of them tribal members—delivered thoughtful presentations about how meanings are created in photographs, cartoons, internet games, news media, … Continue reading

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Write a poem a day

  Thirty poems in 30 days? Our local Buddhist community invites folks to write a poem each day, from the start of April to the finish. Sounds like a sweet challenge: can I write a poem a day? Can you? … Continue reading

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Oscar’s Platform for Politics  

  DiCaprio’s Plea for Indigenous Acknowledgement Gets Buried Leonardo DiCaprio’s acceptance speech for Best Actor at Sunday’s Academy Awards ceremony turned into a Rorschach test for viewers: you heard what you wanted to hear. After thanking The Revenant team, DiCaprio … Continue reading

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Entertainment’s Whitewash

But not so invisible  The crowd cheered when the speaker slammed the entertainment industry, charging that, when Americans tune into television, they see a “virtual whitewash in programming.” The timing was perfect: lack of diversity in entertainment programs was high … Continue reading

Posted in american indian, authenticity, cinema, communication, film, framing, Indian, mascots, native american, native press, Native Science, Redskins | Tagged | Leave a comment

The Oregon Stand-off: Where are the Indians?

A lesson in ideological framing When news of an armed stand-off at a wildlife refuge in Malheur County broke, I tried to wrap my brain around the event unfolding in my home state. What did the protesters want? I’m wary … Continue reading

Posted in american indian, authenticity, framing, Indian, journalism, native american, Native Science, Paiute, writing | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

It’s not about science: it’s about control

Give her the shot Once again childhood vaccines are at the news forefront. Seems that one of the presidential hopefuls thinks vaccines cause autism. I viewed this week’s debate through the periscope of the internet. Here’s what I learned: Donald … Continue reading

Posted in affordable care, american indian, authenticity, framing, health, health insurance, heuristics, native american, vaccine | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Indian People’s Time

Visiting the reservation reminds me that I’m a poster child for the folks who tried to integrate Indians into the mainstream version of settler life—what Robert Warrior calls a Judeo-Christian viewpoint fueled by material capital. When I return to the … Continue reading

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Coping

Family Gathering This week some of my sisters and I returned to Oklahoma to take care of paperwork–always best done in person on the Rez–and visit relatives at Greyhorse cemetery. Our ancestors’ headstones stand side by side by side: Relatives … Continue reading

Posted in american indian, family values, Indian, Indian remains, memory, native american, native press, Native Science, Osage | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Trickster

Don’t forget your glasses After attending a recent university business meeting, one member of the group—a graduate student—came over and said I perked up the meeting. She meant it in a nice way. Your face lights up and I can … Continue reading

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