130. Bones of Contention: Skeletons in the Museum Closet

Happy Indigenous People's Day! In this episode, we expose the unsettling truth about stolen Indigenous peoples' remains in some of the world’s most renowned museums, including the Smithsonian, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Illinois State Museum. We dive into the ethical and legal battles surrounding the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), a law designed to return these sacred remains to their rightful communities. Kiki touches on the erroneous pseudo-science of phrenology and how it led to a glut of both legal and questionably obtained skulls in museums across the country. Wrapping up, we touch on the curious case of Stone Man Willie, a case of experimental embalming that led an unfortunate soul to be a funeral home attraction for over 120 years. Join us for a sobering discussion on the past’s lingering injustices and the ongoing struggle for Indigenous rights. Check a museum or university near you with the ProPublica Repatriation Database!

You can listen to 130. Bones of Contention: Skeletons in the Museum Closet online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

130. Bones of Contention: Skeletons in the Museum Closet is an episode from Mission Spooky by Cord, Kayla and Kiki.

This episode is 01:28:06 long.

This episode was published on Oct 15, 2024.

Yes. Use the heart button on the episode page to add it to your favorite episodes list.

Yes. This page shows related episodes from Mission Spooky when more episodes are available from the podcast feed.