When words aren’t what they seem

Posted on November 10, 2013 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

kennewick_man_w400_h532How fortuitous that Native American Heritage Month comes at a time when I’ve been invited to write a book chapter about my work in Native Science.

Below I’ve woven together words that describe what I do for the book’s editors and I welcome your advice about whether the description makes sense to you:

My work examines the ruptures and linkages between indigenous sciences and mainstream sciences, and I study how public discourse of environmental, science, health and risk issues impact American Indian tribes. Continue reading →

Posted in american indian, authenticity, ethics, framing, human origin, Indian, Kennewick Man, NAGPRA, native american, Native Science, neuroscience, repatriation, salmon, science, science communication | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

It’s in the name

Posted on November 8, 2013 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

osage woman Library of Congrress circa 1900Beloved and I traipsed down to the county office this week to fill out the forms, show our identification cards and hand over 60 bucks for an Oregon marriage license.

The clerk asked if I wanted to change my name.

My independence is a fearsome beast and I’ve held tightly onto the name my parents gave me. Continue reading →

Posted in american indian, authenticity, Indian, Lakota, native american, native press, Native Science, writing | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Depends where you look

Posted on November 7, 2013 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

0410000498-lI realize talking with relatives who live on the rez that it all depends on your perspective.

The path differs from one intersection to the next.

For example, elderly relatives were dissuaded in their youth from showing segments of their heritage.

For example, they refrained from speaking our language and the words were nearly lost. Continue reading →

Posted in american indian, authenticity, Indian, native american, native press, Native Science, Osage | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Return to tradition

Posted on November 6, 2013 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAWe arrived just in time for the last few songs at a November gathering in Gray Horse under the scaffold of the newly built roundhouse.

Drummers kept a beat while dancers circled under the arbor as a cool breeze invited the women to wrap their shawls tighter.

I spotted my relative Leaf wearing a purple shawl and she showed us how the new roundhouse allows more seating and more standing room for the Osage gatherings. Continue reading →

Posted in american indian, Indian, Indian relocation, journalism, Kennewick Man, Lakota, native american, native press, Native Science, writing | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Roadkill

Posted on November 5, 2013 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Turtle rabbit

Turtle rabbit

Dog.

Opossum.

Raccoon.

Armadillo.

We counted roadkill on the Oklahoma roads. An armadillo lay belly-up, with only the curve of its shell terra-bound.

As we passed the armadillo a bald eagle circled ahead, making slow moons above the armored animal the Aztecs call turtle rabbit.

I saw the eagle in the rear-view mirror drawing down upon its prey.

Good omen.

3 November Native American Heritage Month

Drawing by Julianne Snider at http://exhibits.museum.state.il.us/exhibits/larson/dasypus.html

Posted in american indian, authenticity, Indian, Indian relocation, native american, native press, Native Science, Osage, writing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Home away from home

Posted on November 2, 2013 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Poster

Poster

What better way to greet Native American Heritage Month than by travelling to the rez?

My beloved and I are headed to Oklahoma and he will have his first opportunity to see my Osage relatives.

If it weren’t for my mother’s persistence, I might never have met the family members who set down roots in Osage communities like Fairfax and Gray Horse and Pawhuska and Hominy. Continue reading →

Posted in american indian, Indian relocation, native american, native press, Osage | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Write

Posted on November 2, 2013 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

My relative Little Wound

My relative Little Wound

I welcome the chance to beef up my blog in November.

Native American Heritage Month beckons me, and, starting last year, I wrote a blog a day in November.

The idea of “once a day” comes from Suzan-Lori Parks: a playwright, MacArthur Fellow and Pulitzer Prize-winning author.

Continue reading →

Posted in american indian, framing, native american, native press, Native Science, writing | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Anderson Cooper: 29 across

Posted on October 24, 2013 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Anderson Cooper

Anderson Cooper

Combing the web earlier this week I was looking for squibs on Anderson Cooper.

Cooper enlivened crowds in Portland, talking shop on news and reporting.

My job was to introduce him to students and faculty for an informal question-and-answer session. Continue reading →

Posted in framing, Indian, journalism, michael clakr, Native Science, science, science communication, writing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

And one for Wakonta

Posted on October 10, 2013 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

maxwell przeiYou just can’t find good coffee outside Portland.

That’s a fib.

We found tasty java in New York. But Istanbul? Paris? Rapid City? Continue reading →

Posted in american indian, Indian, Lakota, native american, native press, Native Science, Osage, Portland | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Java tales

Posted on October 9, 2013 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

475px-Alfred_Jacob_Miller_-_The_Trapper's_Bride_-_Walters_37194012Returning to Portland after a jaunt to the East Coast put coffee in perspective.

Our hunt for New Jersey java focused our activities.

Each morning we watched as the beach denizens, robed in shorts and sweatshirts, bellied up to the coffee bar, wiping sleep from their eyes. Continue reading →

Posted in american indian, Henri Chatillion, journalism, native american, native press, Native Science | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments