There is continuity in the United States Southwest based on the oral history and genetics of Picuris Pueblo
Chaco Canyon and the Native American Tribe of the Same Name: Revisiting the 1923 New Mexico Oil and Gas Restrictions
The people of the Indigenous American tribe of the same name in New Mexico knew they were connected to ancient settlements at Chaco Canyon.
The site was once famous for its great houses but was mysteriously abandoned around 900 years ago.
Craig Quanchello, the Picuris Pueblo lieutenant governor and one of the lead authors of the paper, hopes the study’s conclusions will convince people — including the US government — that his tribe deserves a say in Chaco Canyon’s future. He said at a press briefing that they have a deep connection to Chaco Canyon.
According to a geneticist who did not take part in the study, it was a big step in the right direction.
A 2023 US government restriction on new oil and gas drilling in the area surrounding Chaco Canyon is facing a legal challenge from the Navajo Nation. A review by the administration of US President Donald Trump is also threatening to repeal the restriction. A federal judge gave the permission for two other New Mexico tribes to oppose the lawsuit.
The Story of Chaco Canyon: The Discovery of the Genetic Connection to the Picuris Pueblo and of the Associated Tribes
By using technology in the Western way, it was hoped that the ship would be steered and they would listen. He added: “We’ve been telling our stories since time immemorial, but this is something on their terms that they can understand.”
After brokering an agreement that gave the Picuris considerable say in the study, Willerslev and his colleagues obtained the genomes from the remains of 16 ancient Picuris Pueblo and the genomes of 13 modern tribe members.
Wayne Yazza was at the press briefing and said that it wasn’t an easy decision. Establishing a genetic connection to Chaco Canyon “was something that we thought would benefit our community”.
Scientists claim they have discovered the genetic link between Chaco Canyon and the Picuris Pueblo Indian Tribe in New Mexico. They obtained the genomes of 16 ancient Picuris Pueblo members and 13 modern tribe members from their own remains and the genomes of 13 modern tribe members. Picuris Pueblo is one of the four tribes that are fighting the ban on drilling in Chaco Canyon.