A professor from Saskatchewan has unearthed a significant artifact from the province’s past within the Smithsonian’s collection in Washington, D.C. This piece is now set to return to its roots.
Andrew Miller, who teaches Indigenous studies at the First Nations University of Canada, was perusing the Smithsonian’s inventory while researching birds. During this process, he discovered a teepee cover that had been taken from the Kawacatoose First Nation nearly a century ago.
The cover was removed in the 1920s, but a family tradition has preserved its story through the years.
“I remembered a student mentioning, ‘Oh, yeah, we have items that are in large museums in the United States,'” Miller recounted.
This memory resurfaced as he examined the catalogue and came across the teepee cover, which was identified as “Dustyhorn—File Hills,” with an acquisition date of 1926.
Miller noted that he is aware of Dustyhorn family members living near Touchwood, Saskatchewan. He contacted Cory Dustyhorn, the current chief of the Kawacatoose First Nation, to share this discovery.
Dustyhorn expressed that he was familiar with the tale of his great-great-grandfather Sîpiskwêsîkan’s teepee being taken long ago. Sîpiskwêsîkan had been promised compensation for the cover, which he never received.
This historical image captures the teepee cover at the time it was acquired by the Smithsonian. (Submitted by Andrew Miller)
Miller and Dustyhorn reached out to the museum, where Miller stated that the Smithsonian was very receptive throughout the entire process.
“They acknowledge that some items in their collection should not be there; these were acquired during a time when the ethics and respect between cultures were not as they are today,” Miller remarked.
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The museum paid attention to Dustyhorn’s account and was amenable to returning the teepee cover. They needed assurance that it would go to the appropriate community.
“I shared a family story that someone began collecting artifacts in Alaska, which eventually led them to Saskatchewan, where they took our teepee,” Dustyhorn explained.
He noted that museum representatives interrupted him to confirm that the individual who acquired the teepee in 1926 indeed commenced his expedition in Alaska, validating the oral history.
Here is an image of the teepee from the Smithsonian Institute’s online catalog. (Submitted by Andrew Miller)
In a statement, the Smithsonian recognized that some artifacts were acquired through unethical means. Back then, the Indian Agent served as a middleman between Indigenous owners and buyers.
In 2022, the museum implemented a policy on shared stewardship and ethical returns to rectify some of its previous unethical practices.
“The policy acknowledges that ethical standards and professional practices in collecting have evolved, and that the Smithsonian currently holds items it would not have acquired under today’s standards,” the statement noted.
Now, a century after its removal, the teepee will be returning to its original community.
Dustyhorn remarked that this return would enhance the bond between him, his ancestor, his family, and his entire community.
He added that they intend to establish a museum in Kawacatoose to showcase the teepee, but for the time being, it will be preserved at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum in Regina.