Tag Archives: native science

Why beliefs matter with climate change

Posted on January 25, 2015 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

I wish I knew more about climate change. Problem is I’m occupied with discourse—the stories we grab from headlines, television and Twitter. How do we (I mean discourse) talk about climate change? What occurs in my circles is the sheer … Continue reading →

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Uncle Silverback

Posted on January 24, 2015 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Uncles are important in my family. My mother had two brothers and my father had four, and uncles would hang out at our house, bringing doughnuts and helping with weekend chores. In the Osage language the word for father is … Continue reading →

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Missing truths

Posted on January 22, 2015 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

As a kid growing up in Southern California (we moved overseas when I was 10) we visited missions that dot the west, built by Spanish priests centuries ago. I remember the missions reverently: made of adobe and tile that cooled … Continue reading →

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Name your demon

Posted on January 16, 2015 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

I heard a comic declare, “no good story ever began with the phrase I was eating a salad.” My story begins in the bathroom, not at the dinner table. I was lounging in a hot bath and catching up on … Continue reading →

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Science as a verb

Posted on January 12, 2015 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

When I looked into how the news stories were framed over the Havasupai case, I learned that science is used as a verb. Sciencing—an ersatz verb—means to science, I argue. Here’s an example: in the Havasupai case, the Indians of … Continue reading →

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Yes, but is it significant?

Posted on December 30, 2014 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Whenever you write a grant or ask for a promotion in an academic setting, you’re required to justify the significance of your research. Problem is, most of us are so embroiled in our work that we don’t question it: we … Continue reading →

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Clearspeak

Posted on December 12, 2014 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Most folks shake their heads and slowly walk away when I begin complaining about poor writing. Folks agree, but shrug their shoulders. Not worth their time. My Old School ways are woven through my core, thanks to feisty newsmen and … Continue reading →

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Part I: Packing values into value

Posted on December 10, 2014 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Our local grocery store has launched a strategy to link values with value. Usually when you hear a store talk about value the idea is that you get your dollar’s worth. In this case, the grocery store is an upscale … Continue reading →

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When headlines lie

Posted on November 28, 2014 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

The mainstream headlines are disquieting: Britain’s Telegraph: Seals helped Europeans wipe out Native Americans eScience: Sea lions, not Columbus, may be to blame for many Native American tuberculosis deaths Yahoo News: Seals not Columbus brought TB to Americas Examiner.com Seals, … Continue reading →

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I didn’t get the email

Posted on November 22, 2014 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

I completely missed out on some Yankee traditions. The culture of weddings and anniversaries, for example, escaped me entirely. One evening we were having dinner with friends, and I complimented our guest on her ring. She received it from her … Continue reading →

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