Summary
Genomics is not just about science or personal health. It shapes family stories, cultural identity, community futures, and the rights of generations yet to be born. That means we cannot approach this work with “short-term thinking” or quick fixes. We must slow down, listen deeply, and consider the long-term impact of policies, data practices, and healthcare decisions on people’s children, grandchildren, and future communities.
Key findings
Thinking long-term helps shift from reactive or project-by-project work to sustaining community health equity over generations. Rather than only considering immediate benefits (e.g. research uptake, short-term funding cycles), we can ask: “What kind of biological, social and health legacy do we want to leave for our grandchildren and generations beyond?” Adapting The Good Ancestor framework enriched the discussion and ensured the community led the conversations.