Reconciling biological and social Indigeneity in the genomic era

Advances in genomics will have profound impacts on contemporary identities, including Indigeneity. A focus on social processes since the 1970s has left scholarship on Indigenous identity ill-equipped to grapple with the consequences of the genomic era. Drawing on multidisciplinary expertise, Indigenous and non- Indigenous investigators will examine biological and social influences on Indigeneity in narratives of selfpresentation and in two fields currently being transformed by genomics: ancestry testing and repatriation. We will develop and test a biosocial model of Indigeneity that will enhance existing knowledge of Indigenous identification as a critical factor in monitoring and improving the health and wellbeing of Indigenous people.