This paper will explore some experiences of people who have used genetic ancestry tools to explore Indigenous ancestry, including how concepts of culture, ancestry, blood memory, and inheritance are deployed to express the connection they feel to perceived or actual Indigenous ancestors.
Long abstract:
In recent decades, tens of thousands of Australians switch their identification from ‘non-Indigenous’ to ‘Indigenous’ in each national census (conducted every 5 years). This reflects a phenomenon whereby people who identify as non-Indigenous discover or suspect Indigenous ancestry, and subsequently identify as Indigenous. For an increasing number of people in this situation, direct-to-consumer genetic ancestry testing features in their identification journeys. For some, Indigenous ancestry is an incidental finding in testing that was conducted to answer other genealogical questions or purely for leisure. For others, family stories or rumours prompt them to use genetic ancestry testing that will often return a result showing no Indigenous ancestry. This paper will explore some experiences of people using genetic ancestry tools to explore Indigenous ancestry, including how concepts of culture, ancestry, blood memory, and inheritance are deployed to express the connection they feel to perceived or actual Indigenous ancestors.