DNA and Indigeneity
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DNA and Indigeneity The Changing Role of Genetics in Indigenous Rights, Tribal Belonging, and Repatriation SYMPOSIUM PROCEEDINGS October 22, 2015 Vancouver, British Columbia Canada Attribution and Copyright Notice CCM Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs CC-BY -NC-ND www.sfu.ca/ipinch 2016 This research was made possible, in part, through the support of the Intellectual Property Issues in Cultural Heritage (IPinCH) project, a Major Collaborative Research Initiative funded by the Social Sciences and Humani- ties Research Council of Canada. Report To Be Cited As: Walker, Alexa, Brian Egan, and George Nicholas (editors). 2016. DNA and Indigeneity: The Changing Role of Ge- netics in Indigenous Rights, Tribal Belonging, and Repatriation. Symposium Proceedings. Intellectual Property Issues in Cultural Heritage (IPinCH) Project, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C. ii DNA & Indigeneity Proceedings Acknowledgements Symposium proceedings compiled and edited by Alexa Walker, Brian Egan, and George Nicholas. This event was developed by the Bioarchaeology and Genetics Working Group of the Intellectual Property Issues in Cul- tural Heritage (IPinCH) Project. Funding was provided by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Coundil (SSRHC) of Canada through a SSHRC Connections Grant, and through Major Collaborative Research Initiative funding. Additional support was provided by Simon Fraser University and the SFU Archeaology Department. Event planning was the responsibility of the Bioarchaeology and Genetics Working Group co-chairs: Alan Goodman, Dorothy Lippert, and Daryl Pullman, along with George Nicholas, Alexa Walker, and Brian Egan. Kristen Dobbin coordinated publicity, developed the program and related materials, and formatted this volume. The design of this volume was inspired by the Indigenous Presence report (Kovach, Carriere, Montgomery, Barrett, and Gilles, 2015), accessible via the University of Regina here: http://bit.ly/1WMX21b. Additional assistance was provided by Chelsea Meloche, Elizabeth Peterson, and Sarah Lison. Transcripts have been lightly edited for clarity and continuity. iii DNA & Indigeneity Proceedings TABLE OF CONTENTS Genetics, Identity, and Justice PART ONE: Daryl Pullman....................................23 Introduction.........1 Repatriation and the Limits of Genetic DNA & Indigeneity Identity Alexa Walker, Brian Egan & Dorothy Lippert.................................27 George Nicholas..................................2 Provenancing Indigenous Human Case Studies.....................................3 Remains for Repatriation Purposes: Kwäday Dän Ts’ìnchi..............3 A Case Study for Exploring Anzick Child...........................4 Perceptions of Biological and Social Kennewick Man.....................4 Identity Dodge and Lucy Islands.........5 Cressida Fforde.................................32 China Lake.............................5 Big Bar Lake...........................5 Theme 3: Genetic Research with Indigenous Communities: Current Challenges and Future PART TWO: Directions.......................................38 Presentations......6 Anthropology, Genomics, and Whiteness Who Are We?: Symposium Introduction Kimberly TallBear..............................39 George Nicholas..................................7 Exploring Indigenous Identity at Theme 1: Constructing Biogenetic the Intersection of Medical Identities—What are the Genetics Discourses Limitations?.........................9 Rosalina James..................................45 Bringing the Ancient One Home: Partnerships with First Nations of Genetic Data and the Case for British Columbia on Studies that Repatriating Kennewick Man include DNA Analysis Armand Minthorn.............................10 Ripan Malhi.......................................49 The Risks and Benefits of Inferring Relatedness, Identity, and Cultural Affiliation from Ancient DNA PART THREE: Deborah Bolnick................................13 Conclusion........54 Lives in Motion: Cautionary Notes Towards a Better Understanding of on Using Human Biology to Infer Indigeneity and DNA Identity, Cultural Affiliation, and George Nicholas & Alexa Walker.......55 Ancestry Alan Goodman..................................19 APPENDICES Theme 2: Biogenetics, Justice, and the Repatriation of Human A: Workshop Participants.................58 Remains.......................................22 B: Workshop Program.......................60 C: Workshop Bibliography.................63 iv DNA & Indigeneity Proceedings INTRODUCTION PART ONE SIX CASE STUDIES 1 DNA & Indigeneity Proceedings DNA & Indigeneity ALEXA WALKER, BRIAN EGAN, AND GEORGE NICHOLAS Rapid advances in human genet- efits in the short-term but could The primary focus was on the im- ics are changing the way we think have long-term drawbacks if DNA plications of these issues for Indig- about our identity and connect is seen as necessary to substanti- enous peoples in North America, to our ancestors. The analysis of ate or “prove” oral histories and but we also had an opportunity to DNA collected from ancient human traditional knowledge. consider them in a broader inter- remains, for example, can provide national context, aided by presen- insights into human evolution, mi- These pressing issues were at the tations focused on Australia and gration patterns, and, in rare cases, heart of a public symposium and Mexico. establish genetic links between workshop held in Vancouver, Brit- ancient peoples and their contem- ish Columbia, in October 2015. The The three-day event began on porary relatives. These powerful event, entitled DNA and Indigene- October 22nd with a well-attended new technologies have many other ity: The Changing Role of Genet- public symposium held at SFU’s applications, ranging from their ics in Indigenous Rights, Tribal Harbour Centre campus in down- use in criminal investigations to Belonging, and Repatriation, was town Vancouver. The symposium learning more about family history hosted by the Intellectual Property focused on current and prospec- through genetic ancestry tests. Issues in Cultural Heritage (IPinCH) tive applications of genomics in -ar However, as with all new technolo- project1, an international and chaeology and anthropology, with gies, there are potential drawbacks interdisciplinary research initiative presentations by ten individuals and ethical challenges associated based at Simon Fraser University who also participated in the two- with the many different uses of hu- (SFU). The event had two main day international workshop held man genetics, and THUS a need for objectives: 1) to examine the ethi- on October 23-24th . Following an caution in the application of this cal, legal, and scientific prospects opening song and prayer by Victor powerful new tool. and perils surrounding the use of Guerin of the Musqueam Nation, genetic information to inform and, the symposium was introduced by For Indigenous peoples worldwide, in some cases, substantiate claims George Nicholas, IPinCH Director genetic technology raises many of identity and cultural affiliation; and Professor of Archaeology at questions. Issues of identity are of and 2) to identify the real-world SFU. particular importance given that implications of genetic analysis in scientific pronouncements about relation to Indigenous rights, tribal The first session focused on the identity claims may have pro- enrollment, and the repatriation of promise and perils of using ge- found social, cultural, political, and human remains. nomics to construct and interpret economic consequences for Indig- Indigenous identities and featured enous peoples. In particular, DNA presentations from Armand Mint- is increasingly perceived as being horn, a religious leader and mem- able to substantiate claims to land 1 The IPinCH Project (2008–2016) is an ber of the Board of Trustees of the and other identity-based rights, to international research collaboration providing Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla provide genetic criteria for tribal research, knowledge, and resources assisting Indian Reservation, Deborah Bol- academic scholars, descendant communities enrollment, and to adjudicate the and others in negotiating equitable terms of nick, Associate Professor at Uni- repatriation of ancestral remains cultural heritage research and policies. For versity of Texas at Austin, and Alan to descendant communities. Using more information on IPinCH and to access the Goodman, Professor of Biological wide range of resources it provides, visit DNA in this manner may offer ben- www.sfu.ca/ipinch Anthropology at Hampshire College. 2 DNA & Indigeneity Proceedings The second session explored the and 3) Genetic Identities and Tribal on them. These are: 1) Kwäday potential for genetic information Belonging (see Appendix B). Dän Ts’ìnchi; 2) Anzick Child; 3) to assist with the repatriation of Kennewick Man; 4) Dodge Island human remains. Speaking to this Ultimately, the workshop was suc- and Lucy Island Ancestors; 5) China topic were Daryl Pullman, Profes- cessful in bringing together com- Lake Ancestors; and 6) Big Bar Lake sor of Medical Ethics at Memorial munity advocates, researchers, and Woman. University of Newfoundland, Doro- practitioners to assess the current thy Lippert, from the Repatriation state of ancient DNA research and Office at the Smithsonian Institu- to begin developing ethical guide- HAPLOGROUP tion, and Cressida Fforde, Deputy lines, protocols, and safeguards to Director of the National Centre for accompany this rapidly developing A haplogroup is a ground of in- Indigenous