After being missing for a hundred years, a stolen teepee cover is set to be returned to its rightful owners and their community in Saskatchewan. Chief Cory Dustyhorn of the Kawacatoose First Nation collaborated with the Smithsonian Institution to reclaim the cover, which was intricately crafted by his great-great-grandfather over a two-year period.
Accompanied by family members and Indigenous studies professor Andrew Miller from the First Nations University of Canada, Dustyhorn is embarking on a 29-hour journey to Washington, D.C. to retrieve the precious artifact. The journey began with a traditional pipe ceremony, seeking guidance for a safe and smooth trip.
The emotional significance of this retrieval was not lost on Dustyhorn, who expressed gratitude towards those who had supported and encouraged him to pursue the return of the teepee cover. As the eldest member of the family, Phillip Dustyhorn, shared in the joy of the long-awaited reunion with the cherished item that held generational significance.
Andrew Miller played a crucial role in facilitating the repatriation process, providing support and guidance throughout numerous meetings and administrative procedures. The family is eagerly anticipating the reunion with the teepee cover, unseen since its theft in 1926.
The reunion will take place at the National Museum of the American Indian, where representatives of the Smithsonian will hand over the teepee cover to its rightful owners. The extensive process of repatriation involved meticulous documentation and permit applications, reflecting the dedication and effort invested in reclaiming the stolen artifact.
Upon their return, the community plans to commemorate the occasion with a celebratory event and traditional ceremony, marking the homecoming of the long-lost teepee cover.