Kyle Sullivan of ScreenDoor Pictures https://www.screendoorpictures.com/ and Brier Buchalter of the Brier Academy https://brieracademy.weebly.com/ (K-12 debate training and education) discuss the cultural and economic underpinnings of DNA altruism, extraction and capitalism. Do these "myths" of the USA serve Indigenous people (Hawaiians, American Indians, First Nations, Alaskans, or Central Americans) and Indigenous Data Sovereignty? This conversation, part 2 of the #LoveDigenous series, features host Joseph Yracheta alongside friends Kyle and Brier. They examine the intersection of tribal sovereignty, genomics, and the exploitative history of colonization in the United States, specifically addressing how these frameworks apply to data and land rights. The discussion centers on two conflicting, yet equally damaging, colonial myths: The "Prime Directive" Approach (13:51, 16:53): Drawing on Star Trek, this perspective suggests that the most ethical path is to leave indigenous communities entirely alone to avoid interference. The panel argues this is a form of abandonment that ignores the realities of systemic harm and denies indigenous people the ability to engage with modern technology or secure necessary resources, essentially letting them suffer in isolation under the guise of respect. The "Doctrine of Improvement" (0:33, 107:46): Often associated with the rationale of the "most productive user," this Eurocentric myth justifies the theft of land and the erasure of culture by claiming that indigenous people were not "using" the land efficiently. The speakers identify this as a foundational tool of manifest destiny, which continues today through bioprospecting and the extraction of genomic data, where private entities claim ownership over native biological resources under the pretext of progress, best use and the "White Savior" trope (8:44, 43:23). Key Takeaways: Flattening vs. Diversity: The participants argue that both myths rely on "flattening" indigenous identities, either by treating all tribes as a singular, vulnerable monolith or by attempting to standardize human biological data (105:46, 107:23). Both approaches strip power from tribal nations. The Sovereignty Layer: Brier and Kyle propose a middle path: a "sovereignty layer" (44:03, 57:54) where tribal nations act as the primary mediators for any research or resource development. This ensures that indigenous people maintain agency over their own genetic and cultural heritage rather than being subjected to the "necronomics" & "necropolitics" (115:47) of extractive capitalism. Changing the Paradigm: The speakers conclude that the current system of "perverse incentives" (113:37) benefits no one in the long term. They advocate for a shift toward biogenesis, an economics of life not individual/corporate accumulation, where research and development prioritize mutual benefit and recognize the humanity and sovereignty of all groups (115:58, 123:20). If you are Indigenous to the Americas, Indigenous to other areas of the world, or a Settler Colonial ally who is tired of lethal nonsense initiated by the Vatican's InterCaeteras of 1456 and 1493 then share and follow the host and all the guests on the show! BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/joseph-yracheta.bsky.social Substack https://substack.com/@joeeltodoyracheta Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-yracheta-582a133a/
