By centering Indigenous community consultation from the beginning rather than after the fact, by treating the genetic analysis as something conducted with the permission and participation of descendant communities rather than something imposed on them, and by treating the reburial as the appropriate conclusion of the scientific study rather than as something to be avoided or delayed, the Anzick research team modeled a collaborative approach that avoided the confrontation that characterized the Kennewick case.

The contrast between Kennewick and Anzick has been noted by many researchers and commentators as illustrating two different paradigms for how ancient DNA research involving Native American ancestors can be conducted.

The Kennewick paradigm — researchers asserting scientific rights against Indigenous community claims — generated conflict, legal costs, and lasting ill will.

The Anzick paradigm — researchers working in partnership with Indigenous communities — generated scientific results of comparable quality while honoring the communities’ ancestral connections.

The broader field of ancient DNA research on Indigenous ancestors has not fully adopted the Anzick paradigm.