Efforts to rebury Native American ancestors in Illinois
The University of Illinois Spurlock Museum now has a policy of only displaying Indigenous artwork purchased or loaned from known creators. Navajo artist Elmay Dawes created this pot (center) in 1995. Emily Hays/Illinois Public Media
Illinois is the nation’s fifth-largest repository of human remains, according to the National Park Service, which administers the repatriation program. And large numbers of remains recovered from Illinois are held by institutions in other states. Nationally, the remains of nearly 209,000 individuals have been reported to the federal government and must be surrendered to descendants. Native Americans whose ancestors’ remains ended up held for study in sterile, nondescript boxes on shelves in educational facilities or displayed in cultural locales hope a new Illinois law will speed their recovery for proper reburial in their homeland. - Associated Press
GUESTS:
Heather Miller
Director of Tribal Relations and Historic Preservation- Illinois State Museum
Joseph "Zeke" Rupnick
Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Chairman