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The
American Anthropological Association Executive Board Has Resolved to
Take the Following Actions on Allegations Made in
Darkness in El Dorado
November 15, 2000
- Establish a Special Ad Hoc Task Force of seven members, six of which
will be appointed by the AAA President from among the members of the
Committee on Ethics and the Committee for Human Rights, chaired by
AAA Past President James Peacock, and charged to:
- Examine assertions and allegations contained in Darkness
in El Dorado as well as others related to the
controversy over this document;
- Review AAA's statements on ethics and human rights.
- Consult such other sources (documents and individuals), and coordinate
with organizations potentially pursuing investigations including
those in Brazil and Venezuela;
- Come to conclusion as to which specific issues, if any (1) are
deserving of an in-depth investigation by AAA, and (2) can realistically
be investigated by the AAA;
- Suggest what kinds of evidence might be obtained or individuals
interviewed on each issue;
- Propose any budget (including expenditure categories and dollar
amounts) that might need to be committed to conduct such investigation;
- Recommend by whom such an investigation should be conducted; and
- Report its findings, conclusions and recommendations to the Executive
Board no later than its February 2001 meeting.
- Charge the AAA Committee on Ethics to consider developing additional
draft guidelines to the Code of Ethics and other materials, and report
to the Executive Board. Consideration should be given to common dilemmas
faced by anthropologists conducting research in field situations,
including: (1) their responsibility to provide assistance when study
subjects experience health emergencies; (2) the level and kind of
remuneration to subject populations and indivudals that is both appropriate
and fair; (3) the impact of material assistance provided to study
populations; (4) the potentially negative impact of factual data about
a study population on such population; and (5) what constitutes valid
and appropriate informed consent in anthropological studies.
- Establish an Ad Hoc Task Force of three persons (one of which will
be designated as Chair) to be appointed by the AAA President, charged
to:
- Summarize the current knowledge of the precarious state of native
populations, as in South America;
- Conduct a review of existing national and international regulations,
standards and guidelines intended to protect such native populations
and to guide contact by researchers and others with such populations;
- Make recommendations on how such regulations, standards and guideliness
can be further strengthened and how the AAA can contribute to such
efforts;
- Make recommendations on how the AAA can educate its members about
the conditions of native South American populations; and,
- Report its findings, conclusions
and recommendations to the AAA Executive Board.
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