Origin: A Genetic History of the Americas

hold that they came from the Grand Canyon region; they did not knowingly
consent to genetics research that thus undermined their historical
knowledge, cultural identity, and potentially risked their own sovereign
claims to their lands. “I started to think, ‘How dare this guy challenge our
identity with our own blood, DNA,’” Carletta told the Phoenix New Times.
“Then I remembered when many of us gave blood years ago for a diabetes
project. I wondered if this was the same blood.”
During the question-and-answer session after the presentation, Carletta
identified herself as a member of the tribe and asked the graduate student if
he had received permission from her tribe to conduct the research. Upon
further investigation, it became clear their DNA had been shared with other
labs and used for other kinds of research—including population histories
and schizophrenia—not approved by the tribe.
When the university refused to apologize and return the samples, the
tribe banished all researchers from their lands. Eventually a lawsuit was
settled in the tribe’s favor, but by then the damage had been done. Other
tribes, alarmed by the Havasupai’s experience with geneticists, have
subsequently refused to participate in genetics research (17).
Many Indigenous peoples view hair, blood, and tissues of the body as
sacred, and that the disturbance of ancestors’ bodies for DNA study is
disruptive and harmful. Thus, conducting any genetics research on their
ancestors may be simply incompatible with their values.
Furthermore, as exemplified by the Havasupai case, the practice of
keeping samples indefinitely, sharing them with other researchers,
carelessly losing samples, not regularly engaging with the community to
inform them about the progress of research, and using DNA for purposes to
which they did not approve (even if consent had been broadly given)—all
of this was a deep violation of the trust tribal members placed in the
scientists’ hands along with their sacred blood.
DNA and Racialization
The concept of race has long been a weapon wielded against tribal
sovereignty. In the United States, efforts by the government to “civilize
Indians” encompassed the theft of land but also the attempted theft of