Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (FIGG) continues to expand the toolkit available for human identification, yet significant scientific and ethical challenges persist when working with severely degraded DNA or with small, isolated, or Indigenous populations. This presentation highlights ongoing research within the Snow Molecular Anthropology Laboratory (SMAL) that addresses these challenges through two contrasting but complementary case contexts: (1) the identification of century‑old remains from the Sugar Land 95 cemetery in Texas (1880-1910), and (2) the establishment of a tribally governed genetic reference database for the Blackfeet Nation in Montana. 

Both contexts present acute obstacles for FIGG analyses. DNA from the Sugar Land 95 individuals is highly fragmented due to environmental degradation requiring optimized low template recovery workflows and iterative enrichment strategies to maximize usable SNP data. Work with the Blackfeet Nation involves other unique challenges: smaller population size and endogamy, both of which affect kinship coefficients, match probabilities, and downstream genealogical interpretation. Our research includes statistical modeling of expected relatedness distributions in small populations to improve the accuracy of inferred kinship networks and to establish appropriate interpretive thresholds for FIGG casework. 

Across both settings, ethical practice is central. We implement non‑destructive or minimally destructive extraction techniques in response to descendant community concerns; exclude health‑related SNPs to maintain transparency and trust; and prioritize community engagement—public meetings, co‑developed protocols, and tribally controlled data governance—to ensure that the benefits of FIGG do not steamroll marginalized communities. These strategies align with global efforts within forensic genetics to increase responsible application, strengthen Indigenous partnerships, and address disparities in database representation. 

Results from our degraded‑DNA workflow testing, combined with lessons from tribally managed database development, demonstrate that FIGG can be applied responsibly even under conditions of severe technical and ethical constraint. This presentation outlines best practices for scientists navigating similar contexts, offering actionable guidance for laboratories seeking to expand identification capabilities while adhering to community‑centered and ethically robust standards suitable for international application. 

Authors

• Meradeth Snow (University of Montana, United States of America) 
• Haley Omeasoo (Ohkomi Forensics, United States of America) 
• Catrina Banks Whitley (Principal Research Group, United States of America) 
• Abigail Fisher (Principal Research Group, United States of America) 
• Rita Simonetta (Principal Research Group, United States of America) 
• Samantha Hofland (University of Montana, United States of America)