Tribes quit long fight over Kennewick Man's remains | The Oregonian

[Ediacara]

Tribes quit long fight over Kennewick Man's remains
The case appears to be over and the stage set for scientific study, barring a federal appeal to the Supreme Court

Friday, July 16, 2004
RICHARD L. HILL

The convoluted legal fight for Kennewick Man's bones -- the remains found along the Columbia River almost eight years ago that make up one of the oldest, most complete skeletons found in North America -- is likely over.

Four Northwest tribes seeking to bury the 9,300-year-old bones indicate they will not take their fight to the U.S. Supreme Court after losing in lower federal courts to scientists who want to study the remains. The bones now await a formal study plan by the scientists.

The U.S. Justice Department, which early on had sided with the tribes, declined Thursday to say whether it would file its own appeal to the nation's highest court by a Monday deadline. But Rob Roy Smith, a Seattle attorney representing the Colville Tribes, said he assumes the federal agency also won't continue with the case.

The Nez Perce, Umatilla, Yakama and Colville tribes filed a claim to the skeleton shortly after it was found July 31, 1996, in Kennewick, Wash., but faced swift challenge by scientists who said the bones could provide valuable information about the early peopling of the Americas. Smith on Thursday said careful consideration was given by the tribes to appealing the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' February ruling in favor of the scientists.

More at the Oregonian

[cosmicaug]

1. Good!

Good!

[Wilber_Stool]

2. What they are really afraid of

is that the skeleton will not be geneticly related to them. They might lose the distinction of being the original inhabitants of North America.

[aquart]

3. Finally!

Ain't their bones.

[Dogmudgeon]

4. But a little perspective is needed, too

If "we" didn't have a 400-year-long history of messing with the native Americans and disrespecting their rights, this would never have been an issue.

In fact, if we were currently doing well by the Indians, it wouldn't be a very big issue, either.

A lot of the remaining tribes are trying desperately to hang on to what little they have left of their cultures. The best things that the scientists could do with respect to Kennewick Man's remains is to treat them with respect, return them for re-burial when the studies are done, and make some kind of token of gratitude to the tribes. A little respect now could go a long way when the next paleo-American is found.

Actually, I have no doubt that the scientists involved will be doing just that.

"Giving" Indians reservations, casino gambling, and Billy Jack doesn't exactly qualify as acts of kindness to the peoples whose lands we overran. Making American Indian scientists partners in the scholarship and rediscovery of their origins would be much better. But right now, the First Nations world-wide get lousy education and are collectively destitute. And scientific or not, Kennewick Man became a symbol of their stuggle against the extinction of their cultures.

--bkl

[nosmokes]

5. i'll second that

bkl.

well said.