Photo: V. Belov/Shutterstock

Sweden To Return the Skulls of 25 Sami People To Their Proper Resting Place

Museums News Sweden
Photo: V. Belov/Shutterstock
Eben Diskin
Aug 8, 2019

On August 9, the Swedish History Museum will return the remains of indigenous Sami people to their burial ground in Lycksele, from where they were taken in the 1950s.

The 25 skulls were exhumed from their burial place over 50 years ago, ending up at the museum to be examined and test racial theories. The repatriation ceremony will coincide with Sweden’s Indigenous People’s Day and acknowledge the terrible treatment of the Sami people over the years, including forced religious conversion and segregation.

There are up to 100,000 semi-nomadic Sami people, mostly in northern Scandinavia and about 2,000 in Russia.

According to The Local, remains of the Sami people were routinely collected in Sweden during the 19th and 20th centuries through excavations, grave robberies, and trade.

The return of the skeletal remains is meant to right a wrong and mend the ties between the Swedish government and the Sami people.

Eleven Swedish museums, universities, and institutes are still known to possess Sami bones and skulls.

What did you think of this story?
Meh
Good
Awesome

More on

Sweden

9 Dreamy Small Towns in Europe That Come Alive in the Winter

12 of the Best Airbnbs in Stockholm

Plogging Is the Swedish Fitness Craze That’s Good for Both You and the Planet

A Winter Kayaking Trip To Sweden Reveals a Remote and Quiet Shoreline

Sweden Will Live Stream Its Midsummer Celebrations Online This Year

Sweden’s Car Cemetery Is the Most Beautiful Junkyard You’ve Ever Seen

Swedish Prime Minister Orders Inquiry of Anti-Lockdown Response To COVID-19

Attend This Film Festival on Your Own in a Lighthouse in the Middle of the Ocean

A Sprawling Ice Hotel Just Opened in Arctic Sweden, and the Rooms Are Breathtaking

The World’s Largest Outdoor Bar Is Now Open in Sweden

We think you might also like

The Most Famous Archeological Site in the World Dominates This European Capital City

11 LA Museums That Sum Up the City of Angels

Zagreb, Croatia, Might Be the Best City in the World for Niche Museums

The 7 Best Historical, Artsy, and Quirky Museums in Berlin

8 Can't-Miss Museums in Munich, Germany To Visit in 2023

The House Where Frida Kahlo Was Born (and Died) Is Now an Extraordinary Museum

These 10 Nevada Spots Will Blow Your Kids' Minds

11 Boston Museums for Travelers of All Ages

7 Hong Kong Museums You Can't Skip in 2023

Save Bookmark

We use cookies for analytics tracking and advertising from our partners. For more information read our privacy policy.