Native American DNA: Tribal Belonging and the False Promise of Genetic Science

by Kim TallBear

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Because today's DNA testing seems so compelling and powerful, increasing numbers of Native Americans have begun to believe their own metaphors: "in our blood" is giving way to "in our DNA." In Native American DNA, Kim TallBear shows how Native American claims to land, resources, and sovereignty that have taken generations to ratify may be seriously--and permanently--undermined.

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This book is frankly worth it for chapter three, "Genetic Genealogy Online," where Tall Bear breaks down the pushback of social scientists by geneticists and other scientists who don't think social science or the humanities are "real work." I would fully frame the entire paragraph on page 122, and literally everyone should read that page, but also read the whole book--the title is maybe a little misleading, and there were moments when the actual science of it overwhelmed me, but ultimately this was such an important book to think about the claims we make about DNA and what knowledge of genetics/genetic testing can let us actually know. It's so well-written and connects across so many fields it's dizzying sometimes, but it's also such an show more important read, and I want to shove it at every single scientist I see (and frankly anyone talking generally about DNA and what it lets us know.) The explanations about how tribal enrollment can work in various systems was also deeply eye-opening as a white settler, and TallBear talks about those processes with such nuance, so that part in excerpt frankly could be huge for teaching. show less

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1+ Work 124 Members
Kim TallBear is associate professor of anthropology at the University of Texas at Austin.

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Genres
Science & Nature, Nonfiction, Anthropology, History, General Nonfiction, Politics and Government
DDC/MDS
970.004History & geographyHistory of North AmericaHistory of North AmericaNorth AmericaEthnic and National Groups
LCC
E98 .A55 .T35History of the United StatesAmericaIndians of North America
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125
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Reviews
1
Rating
½ (4.50)
Languages
English
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Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
ISBNs
6
ASINs
2