Exploring the promise and perils of using biological and genetic information to inform understandings of Indigenous identity.
On October 22, IPinCH hosted a half-day public symposium on DNA and Indigeneity: The Changing Role of Genetics in Indigenous Rights, Tribal Belonging, and Repatriation.
The event brought together an international and interdisciplinary group of archaeologists, anthropologists, bioethicists, geneticists, and representatives from Indigenous organizations to explore the promise and perils of using biological and genetic information to inform understandings of Indigenous identity. This is an important issue to consider, as scientific pronouncements about identity claims may have profound social, cultural, political, and economic implications for Indigenous peoples. The full program can be found below.
The symposium was followed by a two-day workshop (by invitation) at the Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue in which three key topics were discussed: 1) DNA and the Repatriation of Human Remains; 2) Genetics and Identity Based Rights; and 3) DNA and Tribal Belonging.
This three day event was the first such gathering in Canada, providing much-needed guidance for conducting research in this area and for understanding findings and their implications in different contexts, including North America, Latin America, southern Africa, and Australia.
Related Links
- Public Symposium Program (PDF)
- Event write-up — DNA and Indigeneity Event Explores Genomics in Archaeology and Anthropology (Oct 2015)
- DNA & Indigeneity Symposium Proceedings (PDF)
[Photo: vitstudio/Shutterstock]
