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Yet this native pride coexists w/firmly grounded extinction narratives & the erasure of our Indigenous (& African) ancestors. Even my 10th grade history class textbook described 500 not 5,000 years of history! 
13/ #DecolonizeDNA #DNADay (Img: http://Amazon.com )
13/ #DecolonizeDNA #DNADay (Img: http://Amazon.com )
Indigenous activist & resurgent movements in the Caribbean & US diaspora have opposed the extinction narratives for yrs. But now 
& 
data are also influencing public discourse on Indigenous heritage, survival & identity 14/ #DecolonizeDNA (Img: https://americanindian.si.edu/ )
& data are also influencing public discourse on Indigenous heritage, survival & identity 14/ #DecolonizeDNA (Img: https://americanindian.si.edu/ )
aDNA studies have identifiedlinks btw present-day islanders & ancient Indigenous ppl. These findings challenge the prevailing colonial narratives describing the complete extinction of 
& Caribbean native communities 15/ #DecolonizeDNA https://bit.ly/3cNx8oB
links btw present-day islanders & ancient Indigenous ppl. These findings challenge the prevailing colonial narratives describing the complete extinction of & Caribbean native communities 15/ #DecolonizeDNA https://bit.ly/3cNx8oB
Personally, I hope our work leads to a critical reassessment of contact period dynamics, further study of Indigenous Caribbean responses to colonization & a better understanding of native ppls role in shaping the current biocultural diversity of the Antilles 16/ #DecolonizeDNA
Our study also used aDNA to investigate the origins of pre-contact PR communities & their relationship to other Caribbean groups. To read more about this check out our paper ( https://bit.ly/2yBoQkO ) & also see the work of others like @sankofadna @bitesizedna 17/ #DecolonizeDNA
communities & their relationship to other Caribbean groups. To read more about this check out our paper ( https://bit.ly/2yBoQkO ) & also see the work of others like @sankofadna @bitesizedna 17/ #DecolonizeDNA
Now the study is one example of how aDNA can revisit known history. But it's not the only one! Here is the work of a few other scholars who are also integrating aDNA w/other methods to study the past, and in so doing, disrupting hegemonic narratives
18/ #DecolonizeDNA
study is one example of how aDNA can revisit known history. But it's not the only one! Here is the work of a few other scholars who are also integrating aDNA w/other methods to study the past, and in so doing, disrupting hegemonic narratives 18/ #DecolonizeDNA
. @RaquelFleskes et al. 2019 use aDNA + bioarch to investigate the identities of African ppls in the racialized labor system of 1700s Delaware. This work focuses on ppl whose experience was deliberately excluded from the 
record 19/ #DecolonizeDNA https://bit.ly/2Vza0Es
record 19/ #DecolonizeDNA https://bit.ly/2Vza0Es
More recently, Tung et al (2020) combine aDNA, bioarchaeology & isotopes to examine how native Andeans in Peru exhibited agency in resisting Spanish colonial rule for ~200 yrs thru their treatment of, & relationship, w/deceased ancestors 20/ #DecolonizeDNA https://bit.ly/2S3g1al
By contextualizing aDNA with other lines of evidence
, these studies investigate diverse human communities whose experiences were marginalized from the written historical record of the Americas 21/ #DecolonizeDNA #DNADay
with other lines of evidence , these studies investigate diverse human communities whose experiences were marginalized from the written historical record of the Americas 21/ #DecolonizeDNA #DNADay
To do this type of critical aDNA work its important to consider the perspectives of diverse & multidisciplinary scholars and input from descendant populations. After all, if our past only includes some of us, how can we expect the present to include us all? 23/n #DecolonizeDNA
In sum, aDNA is a powerful tool 
that can be leveraged to examine and problematize our understanding of history. We can use aDNA to ask novel Qs that reframe who is represented in our past, & to craft richer and more inclusive narratives of the human story 23/ #DecolonizeDNA
that can be leveraged to examine and problematize our understanding of history. We can use aDNA to ask novel Qs that reframe who is represented in our past, & to craft richer and more inclusive narratives of the human story 23/ #DecolonizeDNA
24/N END 
(Img: 
Quick Img credit to Angel Cruz for the illustration in tweet 12 and to the Ceremonial Center of Tibes for tweet 23.
