Cambridge Bay (Oct 27/03) - Last August, 100 elders in Cambridge Bay said 'Ah', opening their mouths wide so Icelandic researchers Gisli Palsson and Agnar Helgasson could collect DNA samples on cotton swabs for their research.

That simple, quick procedure is an excellent way to collect important DNA samples that can link families, and shed light of the history of people.

At the time, there was interest in elders in Cambridge Bay with light eyes, fair hair, and high cheekbones -- features that some researchers believed pointed to Viking ancestry and close genetic ties to people in Iceland.

But the origins of those "white" looks remain a mystery to Palsson and Helgasson who visited Cambridge Bay last week to reveal some of their findings.

"The data don't suggest any close link between modern day Icelanders and modern day inhabitants of Cambridge Bay," said Dr. Agnar Helgasson during a phone interview.

Palsson said both he and Helgasson would not reveal much more about their research to the media until they get their research published in scientific journals.

"Some of the conclusions are tentative," Palsson added.

Palsson and Helgasson met with elders at the Cambridge Bay Heritage Society last Wednesday, as well as high school students and town council members.

"They are interested in their more recent history and what exactly DNA can tell them about their background and history."

Helgasson stressed the Viking connection was always a "side issue" in the project.

The central part of their research was "to put the history of the Inuit populations on the map," said Helgasson.

"The project is about understanding the history of Inuit populations and the movements of the ancestors of the current Inuit populations, and in particular the movement between Greenland and Canada."

The hypothesis about Norse Greenlanders ending up on Victoria Island wasn't a very plausible hypothesis to begin with, Helgasson said.

"It was unlikely. It's a long way between Victoria Island and Greenland."

Still, Helgasson admitted he was disappointed that connection wasn't found.

"I would very much love to have close cousins here in Cambridge Bay," Helgasson said.