INUVIK - The Inuvialuit and Gwich'in of Inuvik remain strongly connected to their ancestors who helped found the Beaufort Delta region, new DNA research suggests.

Theodore Schurr, an anthropology professor at the University of Pennsylvania, was back in town last week to share some results from the DNA samples he collected from residents last summer as part of The Genographic Project, a non-profit five-year research effort put forth by National Geographic, IBM and the Waitt Family Foundation.

Theodore Schurr, an anthropology professor at the University of Pennsylvania, was in Inuvik last week to present some results based on DNA samples provided by Beaufort Delta residents last summer for The Genographic Project. - Katie May/NNSL photo

The project, with co-operation from the Gwich'in Tribal Council and the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, aims to map out early settlement patterns across the Arctic and reconstruct people's subsequent movements throughout the region.

Using maternal (X chromosome) data from cheek swab saliva samples of DNA collected from volunteer study participants in Inuvik, Tsiigehtchic, Fort McPherson, Aklavik, Tuktoyaktuk and Ulukhaktok, Schurr found many residents showed a high frequency of a "founder type" of DNA. This means, biologically at least, today's Inuvialuit and Gwich'in populations are still tied fairly closely to the people who founded the region centuries ago.

Schurr said this find is "intriguing" and reason for further study. It's unusual to find such a high frequency of this founder type DNA, he said, because generally over time new branches form, whether from factors such as mixed marriages or geographical movement, and the founder type becomes less prominent.

"But here, we still have a fairly high frequency of these founder types and we need to explain why we see that," Schurr said, "because the ancient types that you see in other Indian or Native American populations south of the Arctic, like in the Boreal region, are not very high frequency."

Schurr suspects the DNA found predominantly across this region, known as "A2" has a slightly different genetic makeup - specific to Northern communities - than other "A" types found across North America, but he said more research is necessary to find out for sure.

Ruth Wright, an Inuvik resident and study participant from the Gwich'in Social and Cultural Institute, said she was pleased - but not very surprised - with Schurr's findings.

It makes sense aboriginal populations would stay in this area for centuries, she said, particularly because of good hunting and fishing grounds.

"Why would they go anywhere else? Because right here is where they were, and I think that's great," Wright said. "It's so interesting because then you can really find out - how far back do you go?"

Schurr was visiting Paulatuk and Sachs Harbour earlier this week, collecting more DNA samples for the project. He said he plans to come back next year to present the results of the paternal (Y chromosome) data, which aren't yet complete.

"We're in the first major phase of this analysis and until we get these additional samples this year and integrate them, I don't think we're going to have the full picture," he said. "That will help us to clarify aspects of history that we may miss if we don't go to those places."

He expects to have this region's data complete by the end of this year, at which time the research can be added to the The Genographic Project, which looks at the history of people across the world.

Those who participated in Schurr's study last summer can expect to receive two sets of personalized results - one web accessible and one paper copy - before the end of this month.

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