Recent chapters in Applied Bioarchaeology: Making an Impact discuss research connected to the Milwaukee County Grounds Cemeteries. While these chapters explore creative approaches and critique institutional power, they do not involve the living Descendant Community, raising important questions about ethical and inclusive research.
The Descendant Community began meeting in January 2023 and was fully organized by April 2023. Although the film discussed by Charles and McDaniel was produced in 2021, the chapter itself was written and published after the community was established. Despite this, the chapter does not reflect consultation with or inclusion of descendant perspectives. Similarly, Drew and Drew’s chapter tells a story about an Ancestor from the researchers’ point of view rather than including descendants. It also raises unclear claims about individual identifications without explaining why previous identifications reported in earlier research appear to have changed.
Taken together, these chapters highlight a tension between reflexive critique and practice. While institutional power is acknowledged, authority over narrative, interpretation, and participation remains largely with researchers rather than descendants. As Judy Klimt Houston, President of the Descendant Community, emphasizes:
“Descendants are living voices seeking active engagement in research about their Ancestors.”
Benjamin Neumann, Descendant Community Vice-President adds:
“These publications often create confusion and require the community to spend time interpreting scholarly language and claims. Just as past medical and archaeological practices studied human remains without consent, descendant communities must be included from the beginning to ensure research and publications are ethical and respectful.”
For descendant communities, ethical engagement involves not only recognition, but active inclusion, transparency, and shared decision-making.
Calls to Action
- Learn about the Descendant Community and our ongoing projects.
- Read brief biographies of Veterans maintained by the Descendant Community.
- Support the community through donations or advocacy.
- Researchers and institutions are encouraged to engage with the Descendant Community in future projects, including consultation, shared decision-making, and transparency about decisions affecting descendants and their Ancestors.