DNA Link Found Between Frozen Aboriginal Man and 17 Living People 128
The Globe and Mail is reporting that scientists claim to have found a DNA link between the frozen remains of an aboriginal man and 17 living people. "While the work on the human DNA project has opened new doors and work will continue on establishing a fuller family tree, Long Ago Person Found's descendants said they finally have the opportunity to give their ancestor a proper burial. Because his lineage had never been established, no memorial potlatch could be held. Of the 17 people linked through DNA, 15 self-identify with the Wolf Clan, meaning the young man was most likely Wolf as well."
Great summary (Score:2, Interesting)
DNA... which database...? (Score:1, Interesting)
Re:Meh (Score:3, Interesting)
> more impressed if he'd been dead for thousands of
> years.
Exactly so.
This hardly qualifies as Archeology at all.
Further, in spite of the hand wringing in TFA, is does nothing but discredit native verbal traditions as a source of scientific information.
First, no verbal traditions provided the slightest clue as to his id or even his clan/tribe. The fact that he was extracted from a glacier, reasonably intact, and NOBODY could pin down his tribe/clan from his clothing, and personal effects says the traditions are little more than stories.
Second, a certain racism rears its ugly head with regard to the new found relatives statement that he could ONLY NOW be given "the respect and dignity he deserves." Really? Heaven forbid the native people accorded a white man the dignity of a proper native ceremony.
Re:well, we tried damn hard... (Score:3, Interesting)
The language is dyeing because it is largely useless to them, preserved mostly for historical purposes.
It is still taught, both at home, and in schools. You can even enroll in college courses teaching these languages.
Just as Norwegian is lost to by the second generation after immigration from Norway, so too is Inuit. Not by suppression. Simply thru disuse. A choice made by the peoples themselves.
These people have never been beaten. Their pride is intact. I've lived there. Have you? Or is this just more liberal ranting?
Re:well, we tried damn hard... (Score:3, Interesting)
Additionally, your use of the phrase "These people" leads me to believe that you aren't "one of them" so then the other question I have is: How can you be so familiar with another person's culture that you feel it's acceptable to speak on their behalf?
Assuming that you're a "white guy" (I know I could be wrong...), I'd say that many of "us black folks" speak of and about "white people" in ways that you will probably never be aware of because, well, you're not "one of us". I would think it very likely to be the same for these people.