Claiming the Dead: “Religion” in the Reclamation of Human Remains

Across the globe, people are reclaiming the bodies, names, and histories of loved ones who have died as a result of state violence or whose remains were stolen during episodes of colonial rule. Some have called it a “moment of return.” This talk considers how religion operates within movements aimed at addressing state violence against minoritized bodies, especially as it functions to establish the humanity of the dead. It highlights the important role of religion in the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, legislation in the U.S. aimed at facilitating return. The talk asks how religion, as construed by NAGPRA and deployed by Native activists, functions within this broader “moment of return.”

About the Speaker:

Professor Jennifer Graber
University of Texas at Austin