Remains of seven Labrador Inuit that were exhibited in European zoos uncovered
- EFN Staff | November 18, 2014
Polar Horizons proudly makes public the results of its four-year investigation into the fate of eight Labrador Inuit who died in Europe in December 1880 and January 1881 while being exhibited in zoos.
The research conducted by France Rivet uncovered, in Paris and in Berlin, the remains of seven of the eight individuals, including those of Abraham Ulrikab, an Inuk from Hebron whose diary was the subject of a few publications. But, to this day, Abraham's story remained incomplete. Where were the Inuit buried? What happened to their remains? Nobody knew. In 2010, France Rivet set out to look for answers.
In 2011, France Rivet was astonished when a national French museum informed her that they hold the skeletons of the five individuals who died in Paris in January 1881. Namely, 35-year-old Abraham, his 24-year-old wife Ulrike, their 13-month-old daughter Maria, 20-year-old Tobias, and 45-year-old Tigianniak. This museum also holds the skullcap of Tigianniak's wife, 50-year-old Paingu. France's research has also determined that the skull of 3-year-old Sara, the daughter Abraham and Ulrike, is part of Rudolf Virchow's skull collection in Berlin. Finally, plaster casts of the brains of Abraham, Ulrike and Tobias belong to a French anatomical museum.
As of today, 15-year-old Nugassak, daughter of Tigianniak and Paingu, is the only one of the eight whose remains have not been found.
France Rivet consolidated all her findings into In the Footsteps of Abraham Ulrikab: The Events of 1880-1881, a 344-page book (100 photographs and illustrations) which details the Inuit's journey and explains the events that occurred after their death. The story is being told through the writings of the main actors of the 19th century: Abraham; Johan Adrian Jacobsen (their recruiter and impresario); the journalists who reported on the Inuit's tour; the Moravian missionaries who opposed Abraham's departure; the anthropologists who studied the Inuit either before or after their death; the physicians who admitted the Inuit to the Paris hospital or performed the autopsies; just to name a few.