Category Archives: Native Science

Entertainment’s Whitewash

Posted on February 29, 2016 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

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 →

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Landmark Judgment Returns Bones to Tribes

Posted on February 7, 2016 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

California Kumeyaay Win the Dispute  The US Supreme Court has declined to weigh in on a lower court ruling that will, in effect, allow ancient bones to be returned to American Indians in California. The judgment means a landmark legal decision … Continue reading →

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The Oregon Stand-off: Where are the Indians?

Posted on January 11, 2016 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

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 →

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Does Trump Coverage Matter?

Posted on December 11, 2015 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Are you following national politics? Then I invite you to think about the news coverage of Donald Trump from 2 perspectives. First: think of your gut feelings. Second, think of the empirical evidence. Ready? Let’s begin. Trump receives a boatload … Continue reading →

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Is there a doctor in the house?

Posted on November 29, 2015 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

National Native American History Month: Less than one percent First daughter broke through a chunk of the glass ceiling in November—a tribute to her passion and persistence—and an important event tucked in the shadow of National Native American History month. … Continue reading →

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Native American Heritage Month

Posted on November 3, 2015 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

How should we approach conflict? Ask Granny, my mother said, when I wanted to know what it was like growing up in the depression. In my family we turned to our elders when we had questions. So I wonder how … Continue reading →

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Babies on spikes

Posted on October 28, 2015 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Gallows humor One day I came home from running afternoon errands to find my then-middle school daughters sitting on the sidewalk in front of the house torturing their Barbie dolls. The girls had shorn their dolls’ hair and had scrubbed … Continue reading →

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Creating Doubt

Posted on October 22, 2015 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

The Dark Side of Politics The new documentary Merchants of Doubt knocks down the lies one by one. And then the film knocks down the assumptions, one by one. But it’s hard to know what’s worse: the lies we tell … Continue reading →

Posted in american indian, Climate change, framing, journalism, merchants of doubt, Native Science, science, science communication | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Let me do that for you

Posted on September 29, 2015 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Cognitive effort and auto-pilot Psychologists have long observed that muggles like us shift into auto-pilot to save cognitive effort. We’re all cognitive misers. But sometimes it’s a good idea to break habits. For example, I look for teaching moments throughout … Continue reading →

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When the market meets science

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

Got a rare disease? Step to the back of the line if you’re poor Most of us understand a thread in the tapestry of how capitalism works: when folks demand something—such as cell phones—investors jump into the fray, markets open, … Continue reading →

Posted in affordable care, framing, Indian, Native Science, science, science communication, writing | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments