Kennewick Man is something we should all rally around. The major dog in
this fight is who controls prehistory. Several years ago many aboriginal
groups got together and forced, like other special interest groups, the
passage of the reburial legislation, NAGPRA (Native American Graves
Repatriation Act). Any skeletal remains, burial artifact, or anything
considered "ceremonial" must be reburied. It is a power play and the ball is
in the Native groups' court. I might add, though I am sure it's not
necessary, that not all tribal groups feel this way. This is a struggle
within their ranks as well. However, these groups were stripped of their
land, their rights, and all their power. Who can blame them for wanting to
control their destiny and history? However, it is unfortunate that science
is the looser in the fight. I suggest that everyone of you write your
Representatives and voice your opinion on this struggle for testing the
Kennewick Man skeleton. Whether he turns of to be Mongoloid or Caucasian is
not the point. Scientific inquiry and the prehistoric settlement of this
country is the point.
Darwin
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