Clovis points
“It is no exaggeration to say that America was founded on innovation.”
Having spent November steeped in American Indian ways-of-knowing (I pledged to write each day about Native American Heritage Month) made me acutely aware of our perceptual lenses. Continue reading
The French call it Basse Classe.
Low class.
That’s what went through my noggin when I heard that Donald Trump threw a fit because a Scottish neighbor refused to bow down to Trump’s exploitive needs. Continue reading
Most of us think we’re experts on media.
And one reason is we believe seeing is believing.
Take violence, for example. Parents, teachers, psychologists, physicians—loads of folks–assume that what we see on television and in movies influences us. Continue reading
Al Jolson
The theme was the American West.
So: if the theme was the Civil War, might Charlotte show up in blackface? Would she mime mammies and sambos Al Jolson-style? [See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIaj7FNHnjQ%5D
Of course not. Continue reading
Princess Fakes Princess
When my honey reaches for a cup or the soap, he asks me to translate the word en francais and I do my best to brush off the dust in my mind and recall years of French lessons.
Tasse is cup. Savon is soap. Continue reading
Although today marks the end of American Indian Heritage Month there’s no end to the issues confronting indigenous peoples and I will continue to share my thoughts about topics—some critical, some lighthearted—from an Indian lens.
My argument during American Indian Heritage Month is that—by naming one day or month to honor Natives—we gain permission to avoid talking about issues that affect us the rest of the year.
When I worked as a reporter we liked special days and months: President’s Day gave us an opportunity to reflect on politics and an excuse to run department store sales, while Arbor Day gave us permission to talk about trees. Continue reading
Ryan Red Corn
Just ask Ryan Red Corn.
Red Corn, a fellow Osage with Renaissance qualities—graphic artist, filmmaker and improv actor—has created videos that highlight Indian humor and is a member of the 1492s, an Indian troupe. Continue reading
I was captivated by the porcupine tale told by my Mohawk pal Stephen Fadden back during our graduate school days at Cornell.
Stephen tells a delightful story about his uncle’s meeting with a porcupine who took up residence at the homestead. In the story the porcupine’s personality builds to a perfect pitch before leaving the audience begging for more.
My girls were little at the time, and I took them to hear the talk, where they were captivated by Stephen’s skillful ability to weave a tale. Continue reading
My mailbox is stuffed with fliers from L.L. Bean and Lands End along with a bundle of requests from indigenous charities: American Indian College Fund, American Indian Youth Running Strong and St. Joseph’s Indian School.
This year I’m supporting nationally the Smithsonian’s Museum of the American Indian and locally, Wisdom of the Elders.
How wonderful that an organization like Wisdom—right here in the Pacific Northwest—has as its central mission the preservation of oral histories of American Indians. Continue reading
David Eagleman’s talk last evening engendered many comments around the supper table about neuroscience.
Like soup du jour, neuroscience is le mot du jour (the word of the day).
Neuroscience clings to the headlines like a bear to honey. Continue reading
Cynthia (Ištá Tȟó Tȟó) Coleman Emery's Blog 