6 News
The Grand Ronde Review
Biopiracy: claiming Indian genes in the name of Science
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By Oscar Johnson, Staff Reporter lations" before they fade into the glo
For Indian tribes, the alleged dis- bal melting pot appears to favor those
covery of a much coveted "New with "unusual language, culture or
World" came at the price of Native history" as well as those susceptible
land and resources. But today's colo- or immune to particular diseases, ac-
nizers may be genetic scientists ea- cording to HGDP's Web site,
ger to discover the new world of Gobert, who spoke at the Affiliated
"biopiracy" the study, alteration Tribes of Northwest Indians annual
and marketing of conference
biological life ...an array of corporations in Septem-
and, be it in eager to lay Claim to the ber, said her
blood skin or hair Qf fuWjooded tribe was
samples, what 3 one of many
they now covet is Indians in Order to turn Wh0 recently
Indian DNA. a profit. received a
As genetic engi- letter from
neering gains momentum in the sci- researchers requesting hair clippings
entific world, so has the interest in from its full-blooded female members,
aboriginal DNA the genetic mate- She said that DNA samples are not
rial in human cells encoding the he- the only thing geneticists are asking
reditary traits of indigenous peoples. for and few, if any, will guarantee
And with it, an array of corporations how the material is used or if profits
eager to lay claim to the genes of full- derived from research would be
blooded Indians in order to turn a shared.
profit. - "They want Native family histories,
The National Institute of Health's medical histories and family trees for
Environmental Genome Project is cur- their data base," said Gobert. "They
I rently targeting two-thirds of the are laying all the risk on Tribes with
Tribes in the U.S. for genetic research, out any of the benefits."
according to Biologist and Dean of According to Health and Human
Math and Sciences for Salish-Kootinai Services Division Manager, Cheryle
College, Judy Gobert. Kennedy, the Grand Ronde Tribe has
Similarly, a Stanford University not yet received any request for In
Human Genome Diversity Project dian DNA samples. Although she
(HGDP), which is gearing up for an does not support biopiracy, she said
estimated five-year, $25 million genetic research that could lead to a
project aimed at "collecting, storing, cure for diseases that disproportion
disseminating and analyzing genetic ately effect American Indians such as
data on the great human diaspora," substance abuse and diabetes would
also has Gobert and other Native ac- be a welcomed asset,
tivist concerned. Similarly, federal and non-profit
Activists' reports say HGDP, also projects cite scientific discovery and
dubbed the "Vampire Project" on the potential to remedy incurable dis
account of its plan to obtain DNA eases as the motive behind their re
through blood samples, has targeted search.
roughly 700 indigenous peoples Some, such as HGDP, have prom
worldwide, ised not to patent materials or profit
Claiming that no one people has its from their research and that if data
own unique genetic make up, the or materials do become profitable
project's "global effort to get (ge- they will "try to guarantee that ...
netic) information on ancient popu- some reasonable financial benefit
would flow back to the sampled popu- In both cases the subjects were not
lations. " But this last minute pledge consulted about the use of their genes,
came only after scores of indigenous received no benefit from the research
organizations from South to North and their genetic make up the core
America banded together in protest of their physical identity - is regarded
against the "Vampire Project." as owned by the patent holders.
Citing examples of how pharma- In addition to colonizing the very
ceutical and agricultural companies bodies of aboriginal peoples, to what
have coopted plant and animal prod-' end scientists, corporations and gov
ucts and their traditional uses from ernments might use these genes are
indigenous peoples; genetically al- virtually unknown by their donors,
tered andor patented them; and in Not only could it be contrary to their
many cases profited by selling the end religious and cultural beliefs, but in
products back to the same communi- a global marketplace fueled by profit
ties they were taken from, Gobert alone, human genes can be pur
warned that "big business in this in- chased right through the Internet,
dustry is steam rolling this research." One such example is American
The ethical question of what right Type Cultural Collection where In-
scientists and corporations have to dian and other racially catalogued
lay claim, not only to genetically al- human cells can be purchased for
tered plant and animal products, but about $150 to $200. The Indian cells
human genes and genetic traits are came from the Naval Bioscience Lab
only now being lacklusteredly con- in Oakland, California and, accord-
sidered by law makers while ing to Gobert, were taken from the
biopirates clamor . . circumcised
to claim such wna end Scientists, foreskin of chil-
rights in the name corporations and dren born to ser-
of science and in- governments might vicemen at the
dustry. naval hospital.
Ownership and USe tneSe 9eneS are Even well in-
hence the right to virtually unknown tentioned re
sell human ge- by their donors. searchers seem
netic materials unable to guar
in the form of U.S. Patents and pend- antee that raw or altered genetic ma
ing patents include Axys Pharmaceu- terial will not be used by others for
ticals' claims on the genes said to profit, grotesque experiments or
cause blindness and asthma; Colum- even biological weapons, according
bia University's patent on a baldness to activists,
gene; and Myriad Genetics pending Gobert noted resent arguments by
patent on a brain cancer gene. some scientist and politicians that the
But corporate claims do not stop at 10,000-year-old remains of the so
isolated disease causing genes. called Kennewick Man unearthed in
Patent claims have been made on Columbia park two years ago are not
the blood of 24 of the 260-member Indian. She said just as certain sci-
Hagahai Tribe of Papua New Guinea entific data is being used to back up
hoping to develop a lucrative proce- such claims, along with genetic re-
dure for diagnosing leukemia and a search on Native people, it might
claim on behalf of the U.S. govern- some day be used to undermine the
ment has been filed for a cell line de- aboriginal rights of Tribes alleg-
rived from two Natives of the edly "as proof that we're not from
Solomon Islands. here."
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Fundraiser for Respect and'ko icpjm ,
Sundav. October Z5 Noon l v
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Smith Ballroom
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Native American raffle.
Native storytellers & musicians.
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(W0TE) is a Native American
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mission is the cultural
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of indigenous Elders' wisdom
and spiritual values.
For more information, please
call W0TE at (503) 775-4014.
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