Muscogee (Creek) Nation seek restoration of sacred land; ‘Closer Look’ Graduation Series 2026: Emory Grad
From Closer Look with Rose Scott by WABE
April 30, 2026 · 49 min
About this episode
The episode discusses the Muscogee (Creek) Nation's legal battle for sacred land restoration and features a graduation interview with Emory University student Sophie Kalmin.
Muscogee (Creek) Nation awaits a federal judge’s decision about whether the court will allow their case to move to discovery. For more than two decades, the Muscogee have been in a legal battle to restore Hickory Ground , one of their sacred sites, and reclaim the remains of their ancestors. But for more than a decade, a casino has stood over the site in Alabama. Plus, “Closer Look’s” annual graduation series kicks off with Sophie Kalmin , a 2026 graduating senior from Emory University, who majored in American studies and minored in Middle Eastern and South Asian studies. Kalmin reflects on her academic journey and how her decades-long friendship with Mumbles , a white southern rhinoceros at Zoo Atlanta , inspired her to pursue a career on Capitol Hill. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
People in this episode
Host: Rose Scott
Guest: Sophie Kalmin
Topics covered
- sacred land restoration
- legal battle
- graduation series
- academic journey
- inspiration
- cultural heritage
Keywords
- Muscogee Nation
- Hickory Ground
- sacred land
- Emory University
- graduation series
- Zoo Atlanta
- Capitol Hill
- legal battle
- cultural heritage
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Zoo Atlanta, Emory University
Places: Hickory Ground, Alabama
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