The government's DNA tests of Kennewick Man are going off without major setbacks and should produce results by early August, federal attorneys said in court documents filed Monday in Portland. And the government is meeting again with Northwest American Indian tribes Friday in Spokane to discuss their claims to the ancient remains found in Kennewick nearly four years ago. U.S. Magistrate Judge John Jelderks ordered the Department of the Interior to file monthly status reports on its attempt to link the controversial bones to modern peoples.
Tests are under way.
Scientists who want to study the bones themselves also filed a report with the court Monday, raising a series of questions about an attempt by the Yakama Nation to enter the legal fray. Jelderks said earlier that he would consider this week the tribe's request to become a co-defendant in the case. No decision was issued Monday. Alan Schneider, a Portland lawyer for the scientists who sued to stop the government from giving tribes the bones, doesn't oppose the Yakamas' presence in the case but said they shouldn't enter as a defendant. The skeleton is under federal lock and key.