Bringing ancestors home — the long process of recovering tribal remains

Museums around the nation have held items and ancestors from Northwest Indigenous communities for decades. Some tribes navigate a long and emotional journey to bring them home.

P

eople wearing formal clothing make their way into a community center building in northwest Washington state. It's a private event. Inside, harvested old-growth logs and polished floors shine. The space is filled with bleachers and natural light.

“It’s called Wex'liem," says Lena Tso, a historic preservation officer for the Lummi Nation. "It's named after the frog village, so it’s called the frog building.”

It's good for big celebrations. “There was a really big one on Saturday," Tso said.

Today though, a funeral is underway.

"When there’s a funeral, the family will gather and have all their funeral services here at the building,” Tso says.

A few miles down the road is the Lummi Nation cemetery.