“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
Aanikoobijigan examines the ongoing struggle to repatriate Indigenous ancestors' remains from museums and archives. Following Adam and Zach Khalil (Ojibway) alongside elders and MACRA (Michigan Anishinaabek Cultural Preservation and Repatriation Alliance) members, the film exposes the thin line between archaeology and grave robbery.
Through striking visuals and grounded Indigenous perspectives, it 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. A selection of the Sundance Film Festival. 2026, U.S./Denmark, DCP, 80 minutes. Recommended for 15+
CINEMA + with a post-screening discussion with Sirene Martin, Speed Assistant Curator and NAGPRA Coordinator who coordinated the first-ever repatriation of 24 Indigenous artifacts to the Southern Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma in April 2026.