What Changed In How Science Talks To Communities

The way the Spirit Cave case was ultimately resolved — through a partnership between a scientist and a tribe, built on mutual respect and an agreed framework that gave the Tribe genuine decision-making authority — was not the norm in the history of ancient DNA research on Indigenous remains.

For much of the early history of ancient DNA analysis, the relationship between researchers and Indigenous communities had been characterized by exactly the kind of dynamics that had made the Tribe skeptical of outside scientists.

Studies were conducted on ancient remains without meaningful community consultation.