#but the episode wants to imply that they have made things better for the Yuchi people

[17yearslatewithlattes]

Okay so I’m not qualified for a really in-depth analysis of how the episode treats Native Americans—specifically the Yuchi community—but I think it’s worth making two points about the supposed improvements the Winchesters leave behind at the end of the episode:

a). It’s mentioned in passing that the government will be investigating the bones Sam and Dean dug up, with the seeming implication that this is a good or at worst neutral thing, with the potential to positively impact the Yuchi community. However, please observe that the episode gives no thought to what the Yuchi people might feel about the turn of events. For a really interesting and nuanced exploration of some of the issues challenging the blasé assumption that the US snatching up the bones would be a simple positive, check out this article by Grounds Richard A., a member of the Yuchi community and scholar of indigenous languages and anthropology. It explores a conversation spanning 1993 - 2010 between the International Human Genome Diversity Project (HGDP) and the Yuchi community, regarding whether the Yuchi would allow the HGDP to harvest and study Yuchi DNA. Spoiler alert: as of the publishing of the article, the community had not agreed to the study. (I poked around a bit but didn’t find information on whether an agreement was ever reached at a later date). 

b). The white people clearing out of the area: good. great. No new white people moving in: also excellent. But I can’t help noticing the realtor man says “I’m gonna make damn sure no one lives here again.” No one, sir? No one??? Because the way I remember it, the curse was on white people living there. And I dunno. Maybe some people. Maybe possibly? Even some specific people?? Should perhaps maybe be given the option to live there???