Tierney does not explain in detail what his relationship with the Salesian missionaries was, but it seems likely, judging from the situation in southern Venezuela, that they supplied him with interpreters and contacts for his travels among the Yanomamo. One wonders whether they might not also have supplied some coaching to Tierney. It is also significant that Tierney thanks Professors Terence Turner and Leslie Sponsel for comments and encouragement in his acknowledgements. It appears that much of what has been used to attack Chagnon began with the Salesian missionaries. Some anthropologists have another reason for attacking Chagnon's ethnography Yanomamo.
Many anthropologists still believe in some version of the noble savage myth.
Some people attack the messenger because they dislike the message. Let me end by urging that no one reads Tierney's book without first reading the reports available on the web. Without reading these reports, most readers will not be aware that there is a wealth of data showing that Tierney's main allegations are utterly and completely false. These are all preliminary reports and the investigations will continue. Anyone wishing to evaluate Tierney's claims thoroughly should watch for the final reports.