[Bilimsel Haber] Indigenous identities and scientific research in the 21st century

[Gonul Pultar]

*Call for Papers*
*Location:* 	France 
<http://www.h-net.org/announce/geography.cgi?geography=France>
*Call for Papers Date:* 	

	

	

Biomapping or biocolonizing?
Indigenous identities and scientific research in the 21st century 
Universite de Savoie (Chambéry) France Laboratoire LLS - Cluster 14 
January 28-30, 2010

Though, from a positivist point of view, scientific research represents 
the cornerstone of progress, it is undeniable that such research has 
often been used to support a particular policy or ideology. For example, 
during the colonization of the United States, Canada, Australia and 
New-Zealand, physical anthropology (and in particular craniometry) was 
used to show the inferiority of indigenous peoples and, thereby, justify 
their domination or annihilation. For this reason, and also for many 
others, indigenous peoples have looked on such research with suspicion, 
if not outright hostility.

These reactions are still in evidence today as new scientific studies 
are focusing once again on indigenous peoples. In the field of genetics, 
decoding human DNA has made it possible to look at group-specific 
variations around the globe. While the first projects were centered on 
mainstream populations of European origins, Luca Cavalli-Sforza’s call 
for a multiethnic approach focusing on “human diversity” and on “clues 
to the evolution of our species” (Genomics, Volume 11, Issue 2, October 
1991) opened up the study to non-mainstream groups, and especially 
indigenous peoples. While scientists were debating the origins of the 
Australian Aborigines, the Amerindians, or the Maoris (among others), 
indigenous peoples gathered in the International Working Group on 
Indigenous Populations (WGIP) under the auspices of the United Nations 
in order to try to protect their rights. This led to the drafting of the 
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples which, interestingly 
enough, the aforementioned countries strongly opposed (though Australia 
has recently indicated its support for the Declaration).

Today many research groups and institutions have understood that testing 
indigenous peoples to trace the migrations of their ancestors, for 
example, could generate fierce opposition among those who may feel, once 
more, objectified. Thus, they have set up ethics committees to deal with 
such issues, and have placed greater emphasis on the necessity for 
dialogue with the communities that are the focus of such studies. 
However, while subsequent projects (such as Project Genographic) have 
taken pains to explain that they had no part in government policies, 
would keep the data confidential, and would not use the DNA for 
commercial purposes, many indigenous groups still refuse to be tested.

The present conference seeks to explore the reaction of indigenous 
peoples to recent scientific research such as the Human Genome Diversity 
Project or more specific studies on indigenous populations. Papers may 
focus on case studies – groups, nations or tribes who agree or refuse to 
provide samples of their DNA for testing, for example. They may also 
look at opposition to scientific research from several angles: the clash 
between supposedly “hard” science and belief systems opposed to research 
on the human body, the often unspoken fear that genetic testing might 
uncover mixed origins and thus lead to the loss of identification as an 
indigenous person or group, the refusal of genetic determinism, the 
belief that identity goes beyond the merely scientific fact of DNA and 
is not to be questioned by outsiders – whether scientists or politicians 
– or the use of scientific knowledge for the purpose of subjugation or 
domination throughout modern history. Finally, they may inquire into the 
relationship between scientific or institutional bodies themselves and 
the indigenous populations being studied in order to determine how 
dialogue is established, impaired or even severed.


Conference language will be English
Selected contributions will be considered for rewriting as book chapters

Contact:
Susanne Berthier (University of Savoie, France)
susanne.berthier at univ-savoie.fr Sandrine Tolazzi (University of 
Grenoble, France)
sandrine.tolazzi at u-grenoble3.fr Sheila Whittick (University of Grenoble, 
France) sheila.whittick at u-grenoble3.fr

Please send a 250-word abstract to the organizers. Deadline for 
proposals: October 1, 2009.
Acceptations will be sent October 15, 2009 Papers must not take longer 
than 20 minutes.

	Susanne Berthier-Foglar
Université de Savoie
Domaine Universitaire de Jacob-Bellecombette
BP 1104
73011 CHAMBERY
France

Email: susanne.berthier at univ-savoie.fr 
<mailto:susanne.berthier at univ-savoie.fr>