How Academic Diversity Is Transforming Scientific Knowledge in Biological Anthropology

Anthropological perspectives on genomic data, genetic ancestry, and race

“…In the 2018 follow‐up discussion, the initial symposium was characterized as, “…a space to explore connections between academic representation, research ethics, methodological practices, and knowledge production in biological anthropology” (Smith, Bolnick, & Fuentes, ). For many anthropologists, this symposium and the subsequently published essays (Bolnick, Smith, & Fuentes, ), marked a critical moment in our discipline where the internal momentum among the association's membership to broaden the representativeness and perspectives of scholars was vibrant and poised to enable change. Precisely this type of momentum is important to sustain in response to the reemergence of essentialist ideas regarding race.…”

An ethical crisis in ancient DNA research: Insights from the Chaco Canyon controversy as a case study

“…This lack of engagement means that the full costs and benefits of research may not be considered, and researchers may adopt research protocols that tribal communities object to, such as the destructive sampling techniques used in the Kennett et al study to remove tissue for radiocarbon dating and genetic analysis (Claw et al, 2017). The absence of consultation and collaboration also affects the conclusions and presentation of research, with the questions asked, and the forms of knowledge produced, potentially narrowed and incomplete because the study authors did not consider tribal ways of knowing or consult Indigenous knowledge keepers (Bolnick et al, 2019;Hudson et al, 2018;Matisoo-Smith, 2018).…”

Indigenous data sovereignties and data sharing in biological anthropology

“…If democratization only maximizes benefit for the greatest number of individuals, then unfortunately, Indigenous peoples will often continue to be disenfranchised and bear disproportional burdens of risk under the auspices of the "greater good." Indigenous data sovereignties should not be relegated to "minority viewpoints" within the field but should be centered as expert knowledges which are vital to the processes of data generation, interpretation, and management (Bolnick, Smith, & Fuentes, 2019). In addition to questions of representation, it is important that attention to Indigenous sovereignties rise to a level that is commensurate with the field's foundation upon the exploitation of Indigenous bodies and lands.…”