The use of the word "Caucasoid" to describe Kennewick Man, and his facial reconstruction that appeared plausibly European, were taken by many to mean that Kennewick Man was "Caucasian", European, or "white", rather than an ancestor of present-day Native Americans, although the term "Caucasoid" had also been applied to the Ainu of northern Japan. In 1998, The New York Times reported "White supremacist groups are among those who used Kennewick Man to claim that Caucasians came to America well before Native Americans." Additionally, Asatru Folk Assembly, a racialist neopagan organization, sued to have the bones genetically tested before it was adjudicated that Kennewick Man was an ancestor of present-day Native Americans.
the uSE Of the wORd "CaUcasoiD" to describe keNNewick MaN, and his fAcIal reconstruCTiON THaT AppeARed pLaUsIbly EuroPeaN, werE tAken bY manY To mEaN tHat kennewick man was "caucasian", eUroPeAN, or "wHiTe", raTher than aN Ancestor of PreseNT-Day natiVe ameRiCans, although The teRm "caucAsOiD" had also been aPplIed to the aInU OF nOrTHern jApaN. In 1998, ThE NEw yorK TImes RePOrtED "whItE supreMAcist GrouPS are among tHoSE Who uSed KeNnewiCK man to CLaiM thAt CaUCAsians cAMe To America wElL befORe natIve AmeRicans." ADDitIoNallY, asaTru foLk AssemblY, a rAcialIST neOpagan orGaNIzaTION, sueD to Have the BonEs gENETIcally TeSted BeforE it wAs aDjuDICated thAt KEnnewiCk mAn was an ancestoR OF pREsent-DAy NAtIve amEricAns.