Umatilla Indians assail federal plans to run DNA tests on Kennewick Man

Onderwerp:            Umatilla Indians assail federal plans to run DNA tests on Kennewick Man
     Datum:            Sun, 06 Feb 2000 17:37:05
       Van:            KOLA <kolahq@skynet.be>
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[article provided by JH. Thanks!]

Thursday, February 3, 2000
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

KENNEWICK -- The Umatilla Indians are outraged about plans for DNA tests on
the bones of Kennewick Man.
Interior Department officials said Monday that the 9,000-year-old remains
would be tested to try to determine the culture and ancestry of Kennewick
Man.
"These studies are not being done to prove cultural affiliation," said Jeff
Van Pelt, cultural resources manager for the Confederated Tribes of the
Umatilla Reservation. "They are being done to appease the scientists and the
court."
U.S. Magistrate John Jelderks said last year that any decision on
Kennewick Man without DNA tests would be suspect.
Stephanie Hanna, a department spokeswoman, said the agency would consult
with tribal leaders on the testing but not seek their approval.
Scientists suing for the right to study the bones found in the Columbia
River in 1996 have long pushed for DNA testing.
Cleone Hawkinson, an assistant for the scientists, said DNA evidence is
more likely to rule out possibilities than to prove them.
"It is a real long shot to try to say anything meaningful on the cultural
affiliation question (with a DNA test)," Hawkinson said. "On the other hand,
they are doing science, so the scientific position is winning time after
time."
Umatilla trustee Armand Minthorn said science was ill-served by DNA tests.
"There is overwhelming scientific evidence that indicates DNA testing can
prove nothing more than what they already know, that the remains are Native
American," he said.
Last month the government declared the bones legally Native American under a
10-year-old law designed to protect ancient remains.
Now the agency is trying to link the skeleton to modern people, such as
the five Pacific Northwest tribes that claim the man as an ancestor.
"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," Minthorn said. "This case has made it
painfully clear that a small group of scientists, with the assistance of the
Department of the Interior, can abrogate that right . . . to protect our
ancestors."

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