A Genetic History of the Americas with Jennifer Raff

The Extreme History Project: The Dirt on the Past

Join Nancy and Crystal as we talk with author and geneticist, Jennifer Raff, on her new book, ORIGIN: A Genetic History of the Americas. We discuss the genetic history of the first peoples in the Americas, who they were, current theories on how they arrived, and why they made the crossing. We delve into how they dispersed south and how they lived based on a new and powerful kind of evidence: their complete genomes. We also discuss the myths surrounding the peopling of the Americas, specifically the myth of the Moundbuilders, and how myths persist today in fringe theories about the origins of Indigenous people. Jennifer explains how genetics is currently being used to construct narratives that profoundly impact Indigenous peoples of the Americas and how genetics has become entangled with identity in the way that society addresses the question "Who is indigenous?" Join us for this riveting discussion with settler scientist Jennifer Raff!

Echo-Hawk, Roger (2011) "Summer Soltice," The Mythic Circle: Vol. 2011 : Iss. 33 , Article 14. Available at: https://dc.swosu.edu/mcircle/vol2011/iss33/14