Tag Archives: rhetoric

Use Columbus Day to Confront Stereotypes

Posted on October 4, 2012 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Monday ushers in Columbus Day, an event that irritates indigenous folks in North America. Particularly vexing is the well-worn trope that Columbus “discovered” the continent. Christopher Columbus offers a convenient target for our wrath but I can think of many … Continue reading →

Posted in authenticity, ethics, Indian, Native Science, science, science communication, writing | Tagged , , , | 55 Comments

Grab the Red Pencil

Posted on September 28, 2012 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

When I was a newswriter my editor threatened us with bodily harm if we made an error. You’d get fired for misspelling someone’s name. Seems today we are much more cavalier about accuracy and precision.

Posted in journalism, writing | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Amuse Yourself

Posted on September 10, 2012 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

I was fortunate to meet Ira Glass at a question-and-answer session for journalism and communication students before his public talk in Portland Sunday. The students’ questions were, in a word, wonderful, and Glass nimbly answered with unrehearsed charm. His advice … Continue reading →

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Jumping Frenchmen and Science

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

I live with a fellow scientist and we share a gallows sense of humor. Gallows as in scaffold for the hangman. This comes in handy as we prepare for autumn’s arrival and a spooky Halloween. The prankster in me allows … Continue reading →

Posted in authenticity, health, science, science communication | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Rez Life: What standards do we use?

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

My colleague John Sanchez (Apache) has studied the ABC TV documentary that aired in October called Children of the Plains, which focused on life at Pine Ridge. Sanchez reported his findings this past week in Chicago at the annual conference … Continue reading →

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Salmon and Sea Lions Face Off

Posted on August 1, 2012 by Cynthia (Istá Thó Thó) Coleman Emery

Native Americans are keenly interested in science. Just ask an Indian fisherman. Here in the Pacific Northwest, tribal fishermen have been embroiled in a controversy over salmon. The most recent tempest has pitted salmon against encroaching sea lions, who feast … Continue reading →

Posted in framing, health, Native Science, risk, salmon, science, science communication, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

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

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