Category Archives: writing

The Grass Dancer

Posted on December 1, 2014 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

I love the book, The Grass Dancer. Each story in the book kidnaps you on a journey through Indian Country, crossing over metaphysical and spiritual boundaries. The book won the coveted PEN-Hemingway Award for Best First Fiction. The author, Susan … Continue reading →

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Learning from Ferguson, Part II

Posted on November 30, 2014 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Structural issues—poverty, education, advancement opportunities and health disparities—affect communities in significant ways. Some of the larger issues are being tackled right now, in part because of the turmoil in Ferguson, Missouri. Fortunately some reporters, critics, pundits and politicians are paying … Continue reading →

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Learning from Ferguson, Part I

Posted on November 30, 2014 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

One important lesson we can learn from the anger and violence waged lately in Ferguson, Missouri, is how we look at core problems. My pledge this November has been to write 30 blogs about issues through the lens of American … Continue reading →

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When headlines lie

Posted on November 28, 2014 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

The mainstream headlines are disquieting: Britain’s Telegraph: Seals helped Europeans wipe out Native Americans eScience: Sea lions, not Columbus, may be to blame for many Native American tuberculosis deaths Yahoo News: Seals not Columbus brought TB to Americas Examiner.com Seals, … Continue reading →

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Magazine takes Redskins to task

Posted on November 28, 2014 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

The New Yorker magazine’s latest issue hit subscribers and newsstands this week with a cover that takes the Redskins football team to task. Titled, First Thanksgiving, the cover—a painting by Bruce McCall—shows a trio of Native Americans arriving at a … Continue reading →

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Thanksgiving: what’s the point?

Posted on November 27, 2014 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Sometimes folks who know my Osage and Sioux ancestry ask if we celebrate Thanksgiving. Sure, I say. My family, my mother’s family, her mother’s family—all through the generations—have shared supper with friends and relatives, thanking the creator for the harvest … Continue reading →

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Indigenous voices needed

Posted on November 24, 2014 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

One effect of increased interest in climate change is that many scientists and policy-makers want to hear from indigenous peoples. While native folk have been delegitimized historically as unscientific and irrational, today’s movers-and-shakers welcome hearing indigenous voices. One compelling reason … Continue reading →

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I didn’t get the email

Posted on November 22, 2014 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

I completely missed out on some Yankee traditions. The culture of weddings and anniversaries, for example, escaped me entirely. One evening we were having dinner with friends, and I complimented our guest on her ring. She received it from her … Continue reading →

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Every Month is Native American Heritage Month

Posted on November 21, 2014 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Some critics rail against ersatz holidays. Grandparents’ Day. Valentine’s Day. Labor Day. They argue we should recognize grandparents, lovers and laborers every day. Native American Heritage Month produces cognitive dissonance: it’s great to focus attention on American Indians, but the … Continue reading →

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Indians: We’re All the Same

Posted on November 18, 2014 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

The thing about stereotypes is they corral our thinking into one cluster. Result? All Indians get lumped together. For example, I was scouting the internet for an image for my blog and found this quotation: Certain things catch your eye, … Continue reading →

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