Tag Archives: native science

Every Month is Native American Heritage Month

Posted on November 21, 2014 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Some critics rail against ersatz holidays. Grandparents’ Day. Valentine’s Day. Labor Day. They argue we should recognize grandparents, lovers and laborers every day. Native American Heritage Month produces cognitive dissonance: it’s great to focus attention on American Indians, but the … Continue reading →

Posted in american indian, authenticity, framing, Indian, Native American Heritage Month, Native Science, science, science communication, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Indians: We’re All the Same

Posted on November 18, 2014 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

The thing about stereotypes is they corral our thinking into one cluster. Result? All Indians get lumped together. For example, I was scouting the internet for an image for my blog and found this quotation: Certain things catch your eye, … Continue reading →

Posted in american indian, authenticity, framing, Indian, journalism, Native Science, writing | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

What Does Social Justice Mean?

Posted on November 17, 2014 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Social justice is like the word beauty: We think we know what it means, but how do you define it? Feel it? Measure it? Today we use the term social justice differently from its earliest permutation. Typically we think of … Continue reading →

Posted in Indian, Native Science, science, social justice | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Is Nothing Sacred?

Posted on November 15, 2014 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Spend an evening with the 1491s and you will think nothing is sacred. The troupe of American Indian actors, artists, improvisers and clowns poke fun at tradition while simultaneously stripping away stereotypes aimed at indigenous peoples, including the stereotypes held … Continue reading →

Posted in american indian, authenticity, Indian, native american, Native American Heritage Month, native press, Native Science, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Inner Voice of Optimism

Posted on November 13, 2014 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

What was life like for our ancestors 100 years ago? That’s about three generations—from my grandmother to me. In many ways Ecko’s life was simpler with no cell phones and freeways. But it was also tough, thanks to tuberculosis and … Continue reading →

Posted in authenticity, Indian, Native Science | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

All in Your Head

Posted on November 6, 2014 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

I’ve been exploring how science has affected policies and attitudes regarding American Indians. We know that reservation life and boarding schools weighed heavily on Native peoples. Few, however, have spent time uncovering how science has been deployed to serve political … Continue reading →

Posted in american indian, authenticity, framing, Indian, journalism, Native Science, science, science communication, writing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Science and Trust: What’s Rational?

Posted on November 5, 2014 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

The disenfranchised among us have a history of distrusting science. Some scientists just don’t get it: how can you overlook evolution? Climate change? Diabetes? Native Americans—and African-Americans and Hispanics—can point to specific examples when the mantle of science caused harm.

Posted in american indian, authenticity, framing, Indian, journalism, Native Science, science, science communication, Uncategorized, writing | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Dammit, Jim, I’m a Doctor, Not a Scientist

Posted on November 4, 2014 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

The refrain from the original Star Trek physician, Bones, has arisen like Lazarus from the mortuary of old TV shows. But this time it’s politicians. When asked their opinions of, say, climate change, politicians of late have demurred. “I’m not … Continue reading →

Posted in american indian, authenticity, framing, Indian, journalism, Native Science, science, science communication, writing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Why American Indians don’t have rights

Posted on September 11, 2014 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

The issue of “rights” in North America entered into conversation when I saw this week that—after 38 years—a judge ruled two ancient skeletons could be given to a California tribe for reburial. Unlike Kennewick Man—which has yet to be returned—a … Continue reading →

Posted in american indian, authenticity, framing, Indian, Indian remains, journalism, NAGPRA, Native Science, science, science communication, SKeleton, Uncategorized, writing | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Choose the wide lens

Posted on September 5, 2014 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Students will stand on their heads when they enter my class in three weeks. I will be urging them to view communication through a wide lens. Most of us find it more fun to examine life through the prism of … Continue reading →

Posted in american indian, authenticity, framing, Indian, journalism, Native Science, science, science communication, writing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment