What Have We Done to Them?

In addition to Chagnon and Neel, another scientific heavyweight--French anthropologist Jacques Lizot, who lived among the Yanomami for 25 years--is targeted by Tierney. He describes Lizot as keeping a virtual harem of Yanomami boys and exchanging gifts for sexual favors.

Reached in Paris, Lizot called the charges "disgusting." He added, "I am a homosexual, but my house is not a brothel. I gave gifts because it is part of the Yanomami culture. I was single. Is it forbidden to have sexual relations with consenting adults? People say 'boy,' and they mean anywhere from postpubescent to 25 years old."

The controversy is not likely to abate soon, perhaps not until the scientific community officially investigates the issues raised in Tierney's book. Barbara Johnston, human-rights chair of the American Anthropological Association, finds Tierney's "90 interviews, Freedom of Information Act documents, audiotapes from film outtakes" significant. But she reaches no conclusion. "There is extensive documentation but a lot of room for argument," she says. "If even 10% of these allegations are valid, we must take a good look."

Scientists fear the Yanomami controversy could tarnish the reputation of anthropological research at a time when indigenous peoples are asserting their rights to restrict foreign scholars. But whatever the sins of past decades, the real issue is not the squabbles of academics. It is how to help save the Amazon's largest tribe from modern diseases and threats to their land. "The Yanomami have been in danger of extinction on a lot of fronts--from investigators, missionaries, government officials, miners," says Venezuelan anthropologist Nelly Arvelo. "Everyone must bear some responsibility."