DNA links 17 people to B.C. Ancient Iceman

DNA links at least 17 people to B.C. icemanRelated to man who lived centuries ago; his remains found at B.C. glacierJudith Lavoie, Times ColonistPublished: Saturday, April 26, 2008

Direct descendants of the ancient "iceman" found in a B.C. glacier in 1999 are living in northern B.C., Yukon and Alaska today, DNA testing has found.

Eight days ago, 17 aboriginal people were told that tests have proven they are descendants of Kwaday Dan Ts'inchi, the name given to the remains, which translates as Long Ago Person Found. The startling results were announced at a scientific symposium in Victoria yesterday.

The body of the young aboriginal man, believed to be in his 20s, was found by three hunters at the foot of a melting glacier in Tatshenshini-Alsek Park, part of the traditional territory of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations in northern B.C.