Kennewick Man: Which Right is Right?

Essential Question: Should scientists be allowed to study the remains of indigenous peoples?

Engage: What would you think if a scientist dug up the remains of an ancestor to study?

• Vocabulary Activity: There are 7 vocabulary words the students will define using their

        own words as well as draw a picture of what that word means to them.

• On occasion, archaeologists have dug up the remains of ancient Native Americans.
• Should scientists be allowed to study these remains?
• Native Americans feel such remains should be immediately reburied according to Native

        American customs.

• Scientists worry that if reburied, the remains will deteriorate and lose their value

        for present and future scientific study.

Explore: 

• Discover Magazine: The Earliest Immigrants video (25:02)

Elaborate: 

• The Kennewick Man Finally Freed to Share His Secrets Smithsonian.com Sept. 2014
• Easy to read copy of above article.
• Kennewick Man Wikipedia Article

Evaluate:

• How did this story evolve over time?
• What eventually happened to Kennewick Man?
• What should have been done with the remains?
• What would you want to have done with the remains if they were your ancestor?
• According to the map below, what indigenous people group use to live here in southwest Missouri? 
• What should you do if you find the remains of an indigenous person?

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Early_Localization_Native_Americans_USA.jpg

Evaluate:

• Kennewick Man Worksheet
• Kennewick Man Vocabulary Assessment

Extension:

• Who Owns the Past? Documentary (56:14)