Science and tribal beliefs

Though the Kennewick Man case seemed to pit science against tribal beliefs, there is no monolithic Native American view of the scientific study of ancient remains.

While the Columbia Plateau tribes that claimed Kennewick Man opposed scientific study, the Tlingit communities in Southeast Alaska embraced investigation of 10,300-year-old bones found in a cave on Prince of Wales Island.

In the Tlingit culture, people are mentored by their uncles. Kuwóot yas.éin, which means "His spirit is looking out from the cave," is considered a dear uncle speaking across the ages.

Elder Clarence Jackson from Kake, Alaska, believes science has proven the presence of his ancestors plying the channels of the archipelago by boat thousands of years before.

"Today we're trying to find out when we were here," said Jackson. "We talk about two ice ages and three ice ages. And every now and then somebody says, 'Well, golly, these other people from this other country were the ones that came here first.' And they begin gently trying to dislodge we the people of this land."

Armand Minthorn, a leader of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, says the study of these old bones is a violation. The coalition, including the Umatillas, Colvilles, Nez Perce, Yakamas and the Wanapum band, knows Kennewick Man — Oyt pa ma na tit tite, or the "Ancient One" — was theirs.

Besides, study is unnecessary, Minthorn argues, since the oral traditions of the Columbia Plateau tribes say they come from the ground and there were no visitors. So, of course, the Ancient One was theirs.

"When the land was created, the land also said, I will take care of the Indian people from the day they are born until the day they die," Minthorn said. "And that's why it's important that we get (the remains) back, so that we can put them back where they belong and to put them back in a manner that is close to how they were. Meaning: They are not subjected to any kind of testing."