HAUDENOSAUNEE
MOHAWK-ONEIDA-ONONDAGA-CAYUGA-SENECA-TUSCARORA
ONONDAGA NATION - VIA BOX 319-B NEDROW NEW YORK 13120
November 18, 1993
The National Science Foundation
Johnathan Friedlaender
Division Director
4201 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22230
Dear Mr. Friedlaender:
We address this letter to the National Science Foundation as
organizers of the Human Genome Diversity Project.
The Onondaga Council of Chiefs on behalf of the people of the
Onondaga Nation and the Cayuga Nation demand that you cease and
desist immediately all activities regarding the DNA structures
(genetic fingerprints) of the people of the Onondaga and Cayuga
Nations and other indigenous nations and peoples.
Your process is unethical, invasive and may even be criminal.
It violates the group rights and human rights of our peoples and
indigenous peoples around the world. Your project involves the
very genetic structures of our beings.
That the Human Genome Diversity Project has progressed to the
fifth meeting without discussion or consent of the indigenous
nations and peoples it effects, we find unconscionable.
We demand an explanation of this project be made available to
all indigenous peoples. As far as we can see this is a make-work
project for science and anthropology; it's up to you to prove
otherwise. Certainly this project violates the cannons of
anthropology and science.
We urge all potential funders and foundations to take heed of
our concerns and investigate thoroughly the whole project. We are
angry and concerned that all possible violations of our rights be
safe guarded from an international onslaught upon our peoples, our
lives, our communities, villages, and nations.
If there is a concern for our demise, then help us survive on
our terms.
Dahnayto
Tadodaho-Chief Leon Shenandoah
Onondaga Council of Chiefs