WorldBONK-O-METER

Montreal skeleton DNA shows no Indigenous-French mixing

Researchers analysed DNA from early colonial-era skeletons in a Montreal cemetery and found none had any Indigenous ancestry; the sample is one cemetery, not a census.

On air: Dale Bearman and Vera Bullock on The Bonk-o-Meter
Published 2:38 PM ET, Thursday, October 15, 2026

Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

▶ As it aired · World

Watch it as it aired: Dale Bearman and Vera Bullock on this story, from The Bonk-o-Meter at 2:38 PM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are Live Science's, the jokes are ours.

Photo: Montreal — Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

At a glance

First reported by Live Science: “DNA from centuries-old skeletons buried in Montreal reveals no genetic mixing between Indigenous people and French colonists”.
Covered on BBN on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 2:38 PM ET on The Bonk-o-Meter, by Dale Bearman and Vera Bullock.
Topics: Indigenous, French.
BBN covered this story before: Apple works with Indigenous communities to put endangered languages… (October 12).

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

Live ScienceDNA from centuries-old skeletons buried in Montreal reveals no genetic mixing between Indigenous people and French colonists

What BBN said about it

Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorThe claim under review, reported by Live Science on October fourteenth, twenty twenty-six: DNA from early colonial skeletons in a Montreal cemetery shows no genetic mixing between Indigenous people and French colonists.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorWhat the study actually found is narrower. None of those skeletons had any Indigenous ancestry, and that is one cemetery, not the whole colony.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorSo it is a very clear result, and I find clarity so healing.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorClear, Vera, because every single skeleton came back the same. Which makes you wonder if the cemetery was particularly selective about who got buried there.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorA warning?
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorFine, I rate it Mildly Bonkers, because the claim holds only for that one cemetery and not a centimetre further.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorI rate it a monument to consistent record-keeping.

▶ Watch BBN liveMore World →

More Shorts

All videos →

Photo: Daniel Torok · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
▶ As it aired · WorldTrump ramps up third-country US deportations despite outcryRead the story
Photo: Steve Shook from Moscow, Idaho, USA · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
▶ As it aired · WorldTrump says some would 'rather not watch' Hasan executionRead the story
▶ Hot Take or Not · U.S.Amazon Acetaminophen Recall: Shaking the Bottle Is Not InspectionAbout this segment
Photo: TraceAdam · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0
▶ As it aired · WorldHilary Duff's Mexico trip revives 'toxic mom group' dramaRead the story
Photo: Official SpaceX Photos · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
▶ As it aired · WorldThe Weapons and Intel That Only the U.S. Can Give to UkraineRead the story
▶ Hot Take or Not · U.S.NFL Week 6 Upsets: Never Trust a Favorite, Fear the DrizzleAbout this segment
Photo: Juan Antonio Segal · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0
▶ As it aired · WorldUkraine reports U.S. early warning system shut down amid Russian…Read the story
Photo: Daniel Torok · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
▶ As it aired · WorldTrump says 'should have probably left' Iranian leaders, negotiators…Read the story
▶ This Day in History · Pop CultureAir India's First Flight: Anchor Claims She Was in the Back RowAbout this segment
▶ As it aired · WorldMeghan wears British designers for first UK outing with Harry since…Read the story