The Miawpukek First Nation in Conne River is partnering with Terra Nova Genomics on a study to compare Mi’kmaq DNA with the Beothuk, and other groups.
The study is made possible through a $30,000 US grant from the National Geographic Explorer program.
Mi’kmaq on the island of Newfoundland have long claimed family ties to the Beothuk.
The last known Beothuk, Shawnadithit, passed away in 1826. Since then, there have been a number of people who claimed at least partial bloodline connections to the extinct Newfoundland people.
Among the best known is a woman by the name of Santu Toney who claimed she was the daughter of a Beothuk man and a Mi’kmaq mother. She moved to Nova Scotia with her son and even recorded a song she believed was of Beothuk origin. She died in 1910.
Recent DNA testing showed that the Beothuk were not connected to some other Indigenous groups who came before them including the Maritime Archaic people. This new study will try to determine if some Beothuk DNA survives in the current Mi’kmaq gene pool.
Initial testing will involved 20 people and a list has been provided to President of Terra Nova Genomics, Dr. Steve Carr who visited Conne River earlier this month to provide an overview of the project.
Testing will begin soon after the kits arrive in January. They hope to focus on people who can trace their maternal lineage as far back as possible, and those who can provide a detailed genealogy if possible.
Dr. Steve Carr says he expects to have the results in about a year.
The findings will be published in a scientific journal and will be shared with the Miawpukek First Nation before they are released publicly.
All the implications of the data will be gone over in detail, and the nature of the publication will maintain the anonymity of participants.