His role was not ceremonial or token — it was substantive.

He participated in discussions about the scope and methods of the research, helped identify appropriate tribal representatives to include in the consultation, and served as a channel through which Native perspectives could shape the conduct of the project.

The consultation that preceded the genome publication was not a single meeting or a box to check on a compliance form.

It involved multiple conversations with representatives of several Montana Native nations over the period during which the research was being conducted.

The perspectives of those representatives varied.