Breakthrough DNA study links B.C. woman and 5,500-year-old “grandmother”

Breakthrough DNA study links B.C. woman and 5,500-year-old “grandmother”

The scientific achievement is also seen to have significant implications for First Nations’ land claims and treaty rights

By Randy Boswell, Postmedia News July 6, 2013 8:04 AM

A groundbreaking genetic study led by a team of U.S. and Canadian anthropologists has traced a direct DNA link between the 5,500-year-old remains of an aboriginal woman found on a British Columbia island, a second set of ancient female bones from a nearby 2,500-year-old site and — most stunningly — a living Tsimshian woman from the Metlakatla First Nation, located close to both of the prehistoric burials along B.C.’s North Coast near the city of Prince Rupert.

The findings are the first of their kind to be generated using powerful new techniques to analyze the complete mitochondrial genome of the individuals studied, reconstructing a millennia-spanning line of maternal descent and providing remarkable new evidence of a people’s enduring occupation of a specific geographical area.

The scientific achievement is also seen to have significant implications for First Nations’ land claims and treaty rights, giving aboriginal groups a powerful new tool for demonstrating deep-rooted links between the present and hyper-distant past.

“Having a DNA link showing direct maternal ancestry dating back at least 5,000 years is huge as far as helping the Metlakatla prove that this territory was theirs over the millennia,” said First Nations archeologist Barbara Petzelt, a co-author of the study who also served as the chief liaison between scientists — including one of this country’s top physical anthropologists, Jerome Cybulski of the Canadian Museum of Civilization — and the Metlakatla community.

More:
http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Breakthrough+study+links+woman+year+grandmother/8622720/story.html