Indiana Premiere
![Still image from Aanikoobijigan [ancestor / great-grandparent / great-grandchild].](https://cinemabl-iu-cinema-listings.webapps.iu.edu/film_images/aanikoobijigan 1.1.jpg)
History, spirituality, and the law collide as Michigan tribal repatriation specialists fight to return and rebury Indigenous human remains trapped in museums. Q&A to follow.
"What's the difference between an archaeologist and a grave robber?" an elder asks. "A degree," he laughs. Aanikoobijigan examines the ongoing struggle to repatriate Indigenous ancestors' remains from museums and archives, exposing the thin line between archaeology and grave robbery. With striking visuals and grounded Indigenous perspectives, Aanikoobijigan challenges institutional resistance to decolonization and affirms that returning ancestors to the earth restores memory, dignity, and balance, reminding us that no community can be whole until their ancestors are finally laid to rest. [80 min; documentary; English and Anishinaabemowin with English subtitles]
The screening will be followed by a conversation between IU Indianapolis professor Dr. Holly CusakMcVeigh (Anthropology and Museum Studies; Public Scholar of Collections and Community Curation)—who is featured in the film—and Dr. Jayne-Leigh Thomas (Executive Director, Office of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, Indiana University).
“At once a decry of the disregard the world has put on Native-American bodies and a celebration of traditions that invite us to consider how we might commune with those who’ve long since passed.” — Zachary Lee, RogerEbert.com
"The doc features a mix of striking visuals, from experimental vignettes that present images of cremation and return to the pixelation of bones and remains. There’s a refreshing refusal to perpetuate the violence of putting ancestors’ bodies on display." — Pat Mullen, POV
Any film screened at IU Cinema may contain content that viewers find sensitive or upsetting. Visit our Audience Advisories page to learn more.
