Category Archives: Native Science

Grousing over chickens

Posted on May 21, 2015 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

It’s a battleground Since when do we treat folks who disagree with us as enemies? Is your commute to work a war zone? Do you battle your way through the grocery store? Are there thieves camped outside your door? One … Continue reading →

Posted in american indian, framing, Indian, journalism, native american, Native Science, prairie chicken, sage grouse, science, science communication, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Indians under glass

Posted on April 30, 2015 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

The Indian exhibit currently underway at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City takes an unexpected turn. The Plains Indians: Artists of Earth and Sky assumes a soft approach. There’s an Osage pipe, a beaded dress from the … Continue reading →

Posted in american indian, authenticity, framing, Indian, Indian relocation, Metropolitan Museum of Art, native american, Native American Heritage Month, native press, Native Science, Osage, Plains Indians: Artists of Earth and Sky, propaganda, repatriation | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Do ancestors deserve respect?

Posted on April 12, 2015 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

I didn’t expect to find a full house Friday night for an hour-long, black-and-white, silent movie from the 1920s. But Portlanders came in droves to see the West Coast premiere of a newly restored, colorized version of John Noel’s hand-cranked … Continue reading →

Posted in american indian, authenticity, epic of everest, everest, framing, george mallory, Indian, Kennewick Man, native american, Native Science, science, science communication, writing | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Crazy Horse’s Law

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

Maybe we should call it Crazy Horse’s Law. Mainstream North American culture brings some truths that we all acknowledge but rarely question. Take Murphy’s Law. The suspicious part of our shared-American cultural nature presumes that no matter how much we … Continue reading →

Posted in american indian, authenticity, crazy horse, Indian, Indian remains, murphys law, native american, native press, Native Science, science, science communication | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Beware the sales pitch

Posted on March 6, 2015 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

We can learn a lot from used-car sales folks. Noted psychologist Robert Cialdini urges his students to study the techniques used that entice you to buy. Go to a used-car lot and see how the seller pitches the product, Cialdini … Continue reading →

Posted in cialdini, heuristics, Native Science, sales, science communication | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Sounds deadly

Posted on February 27, 2015 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

I can see the scenario unfold: The desk sergeant asks the officer what happened. “Granola. Crunchy granola,” the officer states. Seems a couple had a fight and the husband was stabbed with a spoon. The wife couldn’t take it anymore. … Continue reading →

Posted in family values, misonphonia, native press, Native Science, writing | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

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