Remains on HH Campus Reflection

In class, we discovered that Native American remains were unearth on the Harpeth Hall campus. While I do understand Harpeth Hall’s thinking in moving the remains to the separate burial site to acquire a more peaceful location, I do not think it was respectful to disturb the remains in the first place. Throughout the evidence, there was not one clear answer as to which tribe the remains belonged to. Therefore, in the unknowing of the tribe, it cannot be known if disturbing remains, or moving them for their original homeland is against tradition. With that, I do not believe that only Cherokee Indians should have been invited to the funeral. Although I can admire Harpeth Hall’s gesture, there was no way of knowing the tribe of the remains, and inviting a separate tribe to the ceremony, in my opinion, was disrespectful. I think that it was moral to honor the remains, but I believe it should have been done more peacefully and a wider audience of Native Americans. I think it would be disrespectful if non-natives were to come to the ceremony. After finding out about the remains, I was saddened that no one ever speaks of it, allowing children to run around all over the graves, disturbing the peace. I believe Harpeth Hall has a responsibility to tell the students and members of the community. I think by telling people this, it could enlighten people and spark new conversations on Native history, which is very rarely spoken about.