Re: Oh, for (fill in the blank)'s sake....

[Adam Levenstein <cleon42@xxxxxxxxx>]

--- Louis Proyect <lnp3@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> The issue is not where you have lived or not lived.
> You don't seem to
> have even the foggiest awareness of the imperialist
> and--yes, the
> racist origins--of anthropology and archaeology. As
> a Marxist, it
> should behoove you to address this reality,
> especially on this list.
> These are just some of the titles that I have found
> useful:

*sigh*

Louis, I won't debate what I do or don't know about
the "origins of anthropology." Clearly you've made up
your mind on that point anyway, and there's no point
in me debating it. If you want to make up your mind
about me being a racist too, be my guest - unsub me,
and I'll come back when the level of political
discussion here gets beyond ad hominem attacks. I know
what I think and don't think, what I know and don't
know, and I fail to see why I should bother to listen
to you try to tell me otherwise.

It's not about what I do or don't know. It's what we
*collectively* - and by this I mean this list, the
Native Americans claiming the body, the US government,
scientists, and yes, even YOU, Louis, don't know. We
*don't* know whether this skeleton is truly "Native
American." Therefore, we *don't* know if the Umatillas
(or any of the other groups claiming the body) truly
have sovereignty over it.

Lou Paulsen has actually made the most cogent points.
Sovereignty is the main issue. Had KW been found on
Umatilla land, my position would be the same as yours
- it's their nation, it's their decision. Italy and
Switzerland recently had an interesting, and relevant,
border dispute regarding the "Ice Guy."

But KW *wasn't* found on Umatilla land - he was found
on Federal land. Which, of course, complicates the
entire issue. Legally, only the age of the skeleton
gives the Umatillas *any* claim whatsoever. And, under
NAGPRA, they still have to establish "cultural
affiliation." Since they refuse to allow DNA testing
(one such effort was halted midstream), all that
leaves us in that department is "oral history," which
brings us back to "mean old racist Adam not taking NA
'oral histories' at face value."

Now, you've mentioned class conflict in science - and
I won't disagree with the sentiments. Sure, class
identity plays a role in science. We all know enough
racists have tried to use anthropological
pseudo-science to "prove" their theories.

But do we pick and choose which scientific findings we
agree or don't agree with based on what we WANT them
to be, or do we go with the evidence? If KW is shown
to be European (and truth be told, I don't think that
will be the case - I think his identity will probably
be surprising, but not European), it won't make Native
Americans any less oppressed, or make their
sovereignty any less worth defending.

Now, a simple question: Exactly in what way will
allowing scientists to test KW's DNA impinge on
Umatilla sovereignty? If anything, it will probably
allow the Corp of Engineers (who now control access to
the skeleton) to repatriate him to his *true* nation,
or at least the descendants of his true nation.

Adam


=====
Adam Levenstein                          cleon42@xxxxxxxxx
ICQ: 17125158

And now, for something completely different.

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