After being absent for a hundred years, a stolen teepee cover is set to be returned to its rightful owners and community in Saskatchewan. Chief Cory Dustyhorn of the Kawacatoose First Nation collaborated with the Smithsonian Institution to reclaim the cover that his great-great-grandfather spent two years creating. Dustyhorn, accompanied by family members and Indigenous studies professor Andrew Miller from the First Nations University of Canada, is embarking on a 29-hour journey to Washington, D.C., to retrieve the artifact.
The process of repatriating the teepee cover has been an emotional and challenging one for Dustyhorn. He expressed gratitude for the support received from elders and ancestors who encouraged him to pursue the return of the cherished item. Phillip Dustyhorn, the eldest family member, is also part of the trip and shared his happiness in seeing the teepee cover coming back to their family after being taken without compensation.
Andrew Miller played a crucial role in assisting the family throughout the repatriation process, attending numerous meetings and providing guidance and support. The group is scheduled to meet with Smithsonian representatives at the National Museum of the American Indian to reclaim the teepee cover, which has not been seen by any family member since 1926.
The journey to retrieve the stolen artifact has involved extensive effort, including report writing and permit applications. Miller expressed relief in nearing the completion of this long and intricate process. Once the group returns, the community plans to commemorate the occasion with a celebratory event and ceremony to mark the homecoming of the teepee cover.
