Who owns Indigenous DNA? Dr. Krystal Tsosie (Diné/Navajo Nation) is an Indigenous geneticist, bioethicist, and co-founder of the Native BioData Consortium—the first Indigenous-led biobank in the United States. She’s at the forefront of the movement to ensure that Indigenous peoples retain control over their genetic data, challenging the exploitative practices of the biotech industry and advocating for ethical, community-led research.

In this powerful kōrero, Krystal shares her journey as an Indigenous scientist, her battles against colonial institutions, and the reality of genetic research’s dark history. She exposes how pharmaceutical companies ignore Indigenous health needs while exploiting Indigenous DNA for profit. Instead, she calls for Indigenous-led solutions—from community-owned biobanks to developing our own genomic research initiatives.

Looking ahead, Krystal highlights the intersection of AI, health, and Indigenous rights, urging our communities to be proactive in data governance, genetic counseling, and ethical genomics to shape our own future.

Key Takeaways:

• Indigenous DNA is valuable—but big pharma refuses to research Indigenous health issues because they don’t see it as “profitable enough.”
• Most genetic counselors are white, meaning Indigenous communities often lack culturally competent health guidance.
• AI, genomics, and data science are the next frontiers, and we need more Indigenous experts in these spaces to ensure our knowledge and rights are protected.
• Indigenous data sovereignty isn’t just about ownership—it’s about ensuring our data serves our people, not corporations.

🔗 Listen to the full kōrero here on our new MEA nei te kōrero Spotify Channel

Let’s reclaim our knowledge, our health, and our future.

#IndigenousScience #DataSovereignty #Genomics #AI #IndigenousFuturism #MāoriScience