A Frontier Marriage

Posted on August 18, 2011 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Emilie Chatillon Lessert

Bear Robe and Henri’s daughter Emilie was raised by relatives but Henri resumed his paternal duties when Emilie was about 16, bringing her to St. Louis to meet her future husband, a French-Osage-Kanza man named Benjamin Lessert. Continue reading →

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How Do Historians Do It?

Posted on August 17, 2011 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Mary Leticia Grove Barnes, great-great grand daughter of Bear Robe and Henri Chatillon

I don’t know how historians do it: how do they cleave fiction from fact? As I dig through the stories of Francis Parkman’s French scout, the fierce Oglala chief Bull Bear and the Lesserts, Revards and Herridges of Osage tales, some fuzzy facts come into focus but loads of questions appear. Continue reading →

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Osage and Oglala Forebears

Posted on August 16, 2011 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Granny and her sister Wymo dressed like fellas so they could smoke cigarettes without being hassled

My guide in St. Louis was Mary (Mimi) Stiritz, a generous soul who took time to tell me what she had learned about my family in her historical searches. Mimi introduced me to the Chatillon-DeMenil mansion’s staff and board members Kevin O’Neill, Lynn Josse, Edna Dieterle, Wardwell Buckner and Frederick H. Atwood III. Continue reading →

Posted in authenticity, Francis Parkman, Henri Chatillion, Indian, Lakota, Native Science, Osage, risk, science, science communication | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Brave Scout, Brave Wife

Posted on August 15, 2011 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Bull Bear, painted by Alfred Jacob Miller

Our tour guide Kevin O’Neill told captivating stories about my great-great-great-great grandfather Henri Chatillon when I visited the Chatillon-DeMenil Mansion in St. Louis. My ancestor met Francis Parkman because the writer wanted to hire Henri as a scout for his venture to Oregon. Continue reading →

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Ancestors

Posted on August 14, 2011 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Today I’m in St. Louis where my forebear Henri Chatillon carved out a life in the 1800s as a scout, most notably to Francis Parkman, who wrote the best–seller, The Oregon Trail. Chatillon is described lovingly by Parkman as courtly, honest and brave, and also told stories about Chatillon’s Oglala wife Bear Robe and her father, Chief Bull Bear.

Ancestors Henri and Bear Robe

Continue reading →

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Death Tax and Frankenfoods

Posted on August 9, 2011 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

This week I’m presenting a paper to a national gathering of professors who look at messages and sundry forms of communication. My colleague and I are going out on a limb, asking whether some messages—by their very wording–prevent further scrutiny. Continue reading →

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Cowboys and Aliens

Posted on August 7, 2011 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

The new movie Cowboys and Aliens puts a tilted spin on the idea of alien. Tear yourself away from Daniel Craig’s azure eyes for a moment and consider the juxtaposition of the concept of alien. The film presents aliens as critters from another world but, for Indigenous folks of North America, settlers were considered alien. Continue reading →

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Pink Pee

Posted on August 6, 2011 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

"Pulling Beets"

My doctor said to check my pee. Seems that taking a bunch of antibiotics to whack away a lung infection can wreak havoc on my liver and I need to check my pee. Continue reading →

Posted in authenticity, health, Indian, Lakota | Tagged | 1 Comment

USDA Grade, Women That Is

Posted on August 4, 2011 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Leverage

Turning to local media, I discovered Portland is embraced in a love affair with Leverage. Leverage is a television drama that airs on the TNT network. And Portlanders are enmeshed in the public relations machine that produces the program: we love the writers, actors, and most of all, the setting. The Oregonian, our daily newspaper, gushes over the show. Continue reading →

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Fatty Nation, Tubby Town

Posted on July 31, 2011 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

When the local obesity group landed a $7.5 million grant from the CDC to advocate for healthy food choices, organizers were joyous. A campaign was launched with advertisements on billboards and busses in Portland that announce “you just ate 16 packs of sugar” if you downed a 20-ounce soda. Continue reading →

Posted in film, journalism, news bias, risk, science, science communication, social media | Tagged , | 1 Comment