The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History holds 1,496 Seminole ancestors in their collection. All 1,496 individuals are the men, women, children, and warriors of the Seminole people. To date, the museum will not assist with their repatriation as they are considered valuable research assets. Our ancestors are not your research subjects.
‘Skeletons in the Closet’
Smithsonian updates collection policy to promote ethical returns