Did Luke Skywalker Know His Grandmother Was Buried on Tatooine?

As we follow Luke Skywalker’s journey, filled with mysteries and revelations about his family, there’s one story that often lingers in the background: the life and final resting place of his grandmother, Shmi Skywalker. 

You might wonder, as I do if Luke ever discovered this part of his family’s history.

Did he know that Shmi was buried on Tatooine, so close to the home he knew?

Let’s explore what we know—and what remains a mystery—about Shmi’s legacy in Luke’s life.

Luke’s Canon Knowledge of the Skywalker Past

In The Last Jedi, we get a glimpse into how much Luke has studied the events of the past. He mentions the history of the Jedi and references the “legend” of Darth Sidious and the fall of the Jedi Order. 

While these insights suggest that Luke did extensive research into Jedi and galactic history, there’s no mention of his family’s lineage or Shmi Skywalker in particular. 

However, given his dedication to learning about Anakin’s life and fall, it’s possible that Luke uncovered details about his father’s origins, including Shmi’s story and her tragic death at the hands of the Tusken Raiders.

Yet, in canon, Luke’s understanding of his family history seems more broadly focused on Anakin and the Jedi legacy rather than the specifics of his grandmother’s life. 

This leaves a gap in our understanding and implies that Luke may have eventually learned about Shmi, but not necessarily while he was still on Tatooine.

Star Wars Legends Hint at Whether Luke Learned About Shmi on Tatooine

If we look at Legends, however, we find an intriguing clue that sheds more light on this question. In A New Hope: The Life of Luke Skywalker by Ryder Windham, there’s a moment where Luke overhears Aunt Beru mentioning Shmi. 

Curious, Luke asks her about it, and Beru explains that Shmi was his grandmother and that she was buried somewhere on Tatooine. 

It’s a brief exchange, but it suggests that Luke might have known a little about Shmi during his youth.

However, this insight doesn’t go as far as we’d like. It turns out that Uncle Owen, likely in his determination to keep Luke’s life separate from the Jedi, removed Shmi’s grave marker before Luke was old enough to know it was there. 

This removal may have been Owen’s way of trying to erase any trace of Anakin’s family history from the farm, especially since he didn’t want Luke to learn about the Jedi or the tragedies of his father’s life. 

If that marker was gone before Luke was old enough to ask about it, it’s unlikely he’d know the full story until much later in his life—if at all.

Did Shmi’s Life Influence Luke More Than We Knew?

The more we explore this, the more we see how Shmi’s story could have been a meaningful link in Luke’s journey. 

Imagine if Luke had grown up knowing about her—how might it have shaped his understanding of his father’s past? 

Shmi’s story of survival, sacrifice, and the harsh life she endured on Tatooine could have added another layer to Luke’s understanding of his family’s legacy.

In Legends, Luke does eventually learn bits and pieces about Shmi, but it’s still left as a mostly hidden part of his story. 

There’s a haunting element to this, isn’t there? 

Shmi, whose love and loss had such a powerful impact on Anakin, becomes a part of Luke’s lineage that’s almost entirely erased, hidden away under the sands of Tatooine.