Indian Dreams

Posted on May 25, 2011 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

I held tight to a dream this morning to assess it: figure out what it means. I found myself at a gathering of Indian women, having climbed up winding stairs to a room where they had gathered and were getting dressed in regalia. Continue reading →

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Like Kernels of Corn

Posted on May 20, 2011 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

If you google Native Science chances are you will land on the name Gregory Cajete, one of the foremost scholars who teaches and writes about indigenous ways-of-knowing. Cajete talked to an audience at our university this week and illuminated how we can practice sustainability by embracing native epistemologies. Continue reading →

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Spirits in the Cave

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

Chauvet Cave images

I dragged my pal Bob to a packed theatre to see the new documentary about caves in France that reveal stories of ancestors from 32,000 years ago. Werner Herzog’s new film, Cave of Forgotten Dreams, explores the pristine Chauvet Cave, closed to all but a few scientists, and I was hoping the documentary would illuminate some of the issues we face between Western and Native sciences. Continue reading →

Posted in authenticity, cinema, film, framing, Indian, Kennewick Man, Native Science, repatriation, science, science communication | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Kennewick Man Exterminated

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

Folks who study mass media and popular culture can’t help but consider the absurdity of how we interpret phenomena, often through the lens of media. Some theorists call this intertextuality–when one representation stands for another. An example is one of the monsters from the Ghostbusters movies. Continue reading →

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Granny

Posted on May 8, 2011 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

My grandmother practically ran rather than walked when she moved her 5-foot frame: anxious to get to the next place. She seemed smaller than she was, because, as a youngster raised on the Osage Indian reserve, she contracted tuberculosis. Continue reading →

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Take it Back

Posted on May 5, 2011 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Today National Public Radio ran a story featuring Harlyn Geronimo, descendant of the Chiricahua leader Geronimo, asking US officials to “apologize for the military’s use of the codename Geronimo during the raid that ended with al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden’s death.” Continue reading →

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Explaining Native Science

Posted on April 23, 2011 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Spending stolen moments writing a research grant in Native Science is a little crazy-making. The grant is aimed at folks sequestered in the humanities. Problem is, I’m a social scientist. Continue reading →

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Judge Me Now

Posted on April 19, 2011 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

I read a chilling headline from the detritus clogging my inbox: An Associate Press story read: Mom Sentenced For Using Facebook As Son Drowned. Turns out that, according to the news, “A northern Colorado woman who was playing a game on Facebook while her 13-month-old baby drowned in a full bathtub was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison.” Continue reading →

Posted in authenticity, Indian, journalism, social media, writing | 1 Comment

One Story at a Time

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

NMAI article winter 2010_11 Coleman Herman
I advise my students when they are presenting their research to tell a story. In our inner-most hearts, what we crave is hearing a good tale. It’s not about discovery or novelty: it’s your ability to strike a chord. Nobel Laureate William Nunn Lipscomb Jr., who died this week at age 91, said in an interview that “It’s not a disgrace in science to publish something that’s wrong. What’s bad is to publish something that’s not very interesting.” Continue reading →

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Death by Duck

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

Spring is the time of year when students go a little crazy: they are trying to finish their studies, earn good grades and complete their major projects. This time of year I get emails from students who’ve been silent for months and months, who are now anxious to get their ducks in a row. My mailbox and email are filled with students needing last-minute help and it’s driving me crazy. One of my colleagues extended the mallard metaphor and said “it’s like getting nibbled to death by ducks.” Continue reading →

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