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CONTACT:
Paul Nuti at
(703) 528-1902, ext. 3008
July 2, 2002
Media Advisory
El Dorado Task Force Releases its
Final Report
Accepted by AAA Board with comments
The publication in November, 2000 of the book Darkness at El Dorado
by Patrick Tierney generated a storm of controversy over the author's
allegations concerning fieldwork practices of some anthropologists with
the Yanonomi Indians. On February 3-4, 2001, the Executive Board of
the American Anthropological Association established a five member Task
Force to conduct an inquiry into the book's allegations. AAA past president
Dr. Jane Hill was named chair. On May 18, 2001 she presented the Board
with the Task Force's Final Report. (The entire report is posted on
the AAA web site.)
The key finding of the Task Force that dwarfs all others relates to
the devastating health conditions of the Yanomami Indians. "The most
critical thing we learned is that these people are really in terrible
danger," Jane Hill says. "This is a critical situation that threatens
their very existence."
The 300 page Task Force Final Report was a labor-intensive effort involving
extensive research, numerous interviews, widespread readings, visits
to Venezuela and Brazil, discussions with government officials and medical
experts from various countries and with theYanomami themselves. It was
prepared with extensive input from the membership and was written in
response to a request for an "inquiry" not an "investigation."
Key findings:
1) The Report notes that AAA has been advocating for the Yanomami for
many years, starting in 1970 and thus predating the El Dorado book.
2) Health crisis: By far the most important finding in the Report
relates to the urgent health condition of the Yanomami Indians. Malaria
is rampant and there's a serious danger of extinction from this disease.
Figures from 1995 indicate a 60% infant mortality rate. Adults are almost
uniformly infected. Brazil has health clinics everywhere, but only a
few Yanomami of Venezuela can get basic care in one or two locations.
For anything beyond the most simple care, they have to be flown to Puerto
Ayacucho. 86% of Venezuelan Indians have no access to basic clinical
care and therefore no access to doctors.
3) Ethics: The Task Force found only one issue that they believe
rose beyond the level of bad judgement to ethical violation. In 1990,
the anthropologist Chagnon was denied a research permit by the Venezuelan
authorities. Instead of appealing to the director of indigenous affairs,
he affiliated with a group of wealthy people, connected to then President
Perez and widely believed to be involved in illegal and corrupt activities,
and obtained access to military aircraft through their foundation, FUNDAFACI.
Chagnon made numerous flights into the Yanomami area without any quarrantine
proceedures or other protections for the indigenous peoples. The Task
Force maintains that this was unacceptable on both ethical and professional
grounds and was a breach of the AAA's Code of Ethics.
AAA ethical standards require that anthropologists must put the best
interests of the people being studied ahead of their research. Chagnon
compromised this principle.
The Report also notes that new international rules governing research
with human subjects must be accompanied by careful reflection of its
potential costs and benefits to the people under study.
4) Blood. On the issue of Yanomami blood samples being held
by outside researchers, the Task Force Report urges biological anthropologists
who hold samples to start negotiations with theYanomami in Venezuela
and Brazil. Some Venezuelan Yanomami are strongly opposed to the use
of blood for research,, especially of people who are deceased, but the
Venezuelan Yanomami have not yet taken an official position while the
Brazilian Yanomami strongly oppose the continued use of the blood for
any purpose at all.
5) Measles. On the question as to whether anthropologist Neel
should be censured for the measles vaccinations that were given to the
Yanomami, the Task Force Report determined that they "unquestionably....saved
many lives" and were "a beneficial measure."
6) Chagnon's depiction of the Yanomami. Chagnon's representation
of Yanomami as "fierce people" conveyed a false image that was damaging,
according to the Report. It regrets that Chagnon failed to publicly
correct his erroneous depictions and support their human rights. Instead,
he has made public statements attacking his professional enemies rather
than correcting misinformation. Chagnon did, however, modify his portrayal
of the Yanomami in subsequent editions of his textbooks.
7) The Report points out that anthropologists have a unique and difficult
task in representing the "full complexity and contradiction and ambiguity
and variability of human life" in their work, especially when dealing
with very vulnerable people.. (see Sec. 2.2.b.4). It also states that
anthropologists have a responsibility not to let others, including publishers
or journalists, simplify and stereotype their work.
Board Reaction
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