Picuris Pueblo uses genetic testing and finds ties to Chaco Canyon
'It's what we always talked about, what was passed on through generations – through our fore-fathers and our elders, that we had that connection,' said Picuris Pueblo Governor Wayne Yazza Jr.
Governor Yazza Jr. of the Picuris Pueblo says they always knew they had ties to Chaco Canyon, but didn't have the hard evidence to prove it. When non-Pueblo parties started conversations such as drilling in the area, Picuris leaders say they felt left out.
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'Chaco Canyon was being mined, drilled, being basically in a position where we could lose it,' said Picuris Pueblo Lt. Governor Craig Quanchello.
That's when leaders decided they could use genetic testing to trace their DNA back to the site. Hoping to get a say on the land, they partnered with a scientist in Denmark and a professor at Southern Methodist University.
'There are controversial aspects to this. Not everybody agrees with doing ancient DNA. But Picuris knows its identity, they know they've been there for over 1,100 years. They know they would like to know more,' said Professor Mike Adler, Southern Methodist University.
The Picuris Pueblo has a population of about 300 people. The lieutenant governor says having this genetic data would also open opportunities for them to learn about their medical history and tailor medicine to their genetic makeup.
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'Looking at the world legally, there's all these disputes, whether it land, sacred sites, monuments, it all ties together at the end of the day. Having this DNA, it's a game-changer. It's a tool that we can use to our advantage,' said Yazza Jr.
Picuris leaders say they hope this will open the door for future productive conversations surrounding Chaco. 'At the end of the day, it's protecting Chaco. That was the big thing of tracing it. Letting them know that that's a sacred place to all tribes,' said Yazza Jr.
The data collected is also completely controlled by the Pueblo. Meaning if any researchers wanted access in the future, they would need to get their permission.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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