Tag Archives: Indigenous Science

Mixed Bloods

Posted on June 29, 2012 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

My Lakota relatives John and his brother Ben Artichoker grew up with their family in a modest home at Stinking Water Creek at the Pine Ridge Reservation, where they were considered “mixed-bloods.” John says they didn’t have much money and … Continue reading →

Posted in Indian, Lakota | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Can You Prove You’re Indian?

Posted on June 19, 2012 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

>My editors want me to add a chapter to my book on the topic of American Indian identity. Identity holds loads of currency. Seems folks find identity resonant. But imagine writing a chapter on, say African American identity, or how … Continue reading →

Posted in authenticity, human origin, Indian, science, science communication | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

What do Folks Think about Indian Issues?

Posted on June 18, 2012 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

We wanted to know how people feel about Indian issues in the Pacific Northwest and recently discovered that opinions are mixed. In fact, opinions are pretty lumpy. Take, for example, the issue of sea lions at the Columbia River.

Posted in authenticity, journalism, Native Science, salmon, science, writing | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Naming as Power

Posted on June 14, 2012 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Auntie told me a story while I was in Oklahoma. The Osage gather each June for the dances in the Grayhorse, Hominy and Pawhuska districts. My aunt and her daughter open their homes to relatives and friends, serving a bounty … Continue reading →

Posted in authenticity, Osage, writing | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Indian Authenticity

Posted on June 6, 2012 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

The timing was perfect. I finished presenting a paper at an academic conference in Phoenix on authenticity, specifically the media portrayal of the ancient skeleton Kennewick man. And then authenticity hit the fan. I was surrounded by stories of Indian … Continue reading →

Posted in authenticity, ethics, framing, Geronimo, Indian, journalism | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Exterminating Indian Identity

Posted on May 24, 2012 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Soon I will be bound for Phoenix to present a paper on American Indian identity and authenticity: a topic of keen interest. Critics often complain about Indian stereotypes, ranging from the issues surrounding sports mascots to non-Indians playing Native roles … Continue reading →

Posted in authenticity, cinema, ethics, film, human origin, Kennewick Man, Native Science, repatriation, science, writing | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Indian Mascots on the Agenda

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Oregon media are twitterpatted over the school mascot issue. Really? Too much hand-wringing, too late. Naming school sports teams Redskins, Indians, Braves and Chiefs has long been on the radar of American Indian activists: hardly a new issue. But in … Continue reading →

Posted in authenticity, ethics, framing, Indian, journalism | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

When Science is Exclusive

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

I did a quick double-take while researching a chapter for my book on science and culture. It’s like those visual double-take games in magazines, when they put two pictures side by side and you’re supposed to find the discrepancies from … Continue reading →

Posted in authenticity, framing, health, Indian, journalism, Native Science, science, science communication | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Pack my Suitcase with Rocks

Posted on April 17, 2012 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Know how sometimes you can hear something a million times but it doesn’t resonate until, one day, it connects? As an academic I’ve been studying the meaning of “place” in American Indian ways-of-knowing from a distant, theoretical perspective. Trying to … Continue reading →

Posted in authenticity | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Skunk Cabbage

Posted on April 13, 2012 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

We discovered a break in the rain this week and drove to the coast to explore the greenery and found the skunk cabbage in full regalia. You first catch a sniff of mild skunk in the wind and then see, … Continue reading →

Posted in health, Native Science | Tagged , , | 2 Comments