Ancient One / Kennewick Man
Ancient One / Kennewick Man
In a press release yesterday the US Department of Interior (DOI)
announced it would conduct DNA tests of the Ancient One (a.k.a.
Kennewick Man). "The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla
Indian Reservation strongly opposes the federal government's decision
to proceed with DNA analysis. Not only does DNA analysis require
additional destruction of these human remains, which we oppose,
but in our view there is overwhelming scientific evidence that
indicates DNA testing can prove nothing more than what they already
know, that the remains are Native American," said Armand
Minthorn, CTUIR Board of Trustees member.
Minthorn said the decision of the DOI to go forward with DNA
tests of the Ancient One is scientifically indefensible for three
reasons.
1. The DOI admits that it would be "almost impossible"
to obtain uncontaminated DNA for analysis and that there would
be "no guarantees of a conclusive outcome."
2. The DOI continues to perpetuate the theory that race is the
same as cultural affiliation -- an antiquated theory that has
been abandoned by most anthropologists.
3. The only possible conclusion that can be drawn from the DNA
tests is whether the remains are consistent with other Native
American DNA, even though DOI has already concluded that the Ancient
One is Native American.
"The regulations written by the DOI, implementing the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, specifically say that cultural affiliation need not be proven to a scientific certainty. DOI, however, is willing to use all means necessary to try and show cultural affiliation, even when the tribes expressly object to those methods. These studies are not being done to prove cultural affiliation. They are being done to appease the scientists and the court," said Jeff Van Pelt, Program Manager of the CTUIR Cultural Resources Protection Program.
In the DOI Press Release, Frank McManamon stated "We believe
that DNA analysis will help determine the biological and genetic
racial ancestry of the remains… " The use of the term
"genetic racial ancestry" gives the impression that
the racial status of the remains is what is at issue. "NAGPRA
is clear that the line for repatriation is cultural affiliation,
not race. The very notion of race within anthropology has so many
possible definitions that many anthropologists have abandoned
the notion and seek instead to define peoples by their cultures,"
said Van Pelt.
According to Minthorn, "What is at issue in this case is
not just our desire to protect one ancestor, but how this case
will be applied to every other Native American skeleton found
in the United States. If NAGPRA was intended to return tribes
the right to protect our ancestors from unconsented excavation,
removal, analysis and destruction, then this case has made it
painfully clear that a small group of scientists, with the assistance
of the DOI, can abrogate that right."
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