After being absent for a century, a stolen teepee cover is set to be returned to its rightful owners and their community in Saskatchewan. Chief Cory (Okimow) Dustyhorn, from Kawacatoose First Nation, collaborated with the Smithsonian Institution to reclaim the cover crafted by his great-great-grandfather over two years.
Accompanied by some 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. for the retrieval. The process commenced with a pipe ceremony, seeking guidance for a smooth journey ahead, as Dustyhorn shared with CBC News.
Reflecting on the emotional journey, Dustyhorn expressed surprise that the day of reclaiming the cover had arrived. He acknowledged the support and encouragement from those who had passed on, driving him to pursue the retrieval and bring it back to the community.
The eldest family member, Phillip Dustyhorn, is also participating in the expedition. Recalling how he grew up listening to the teepee’s story handed down through generations, he expressed joy at the return of something that was wrongfully taken without compensation.
Throughout the repatriation process, Miller aided the family, attending numerous meetings and providing necessary support. The teepee cover, belonging to Sîpiskwêsîkan (Dustyhorn), was stolen in 1926 and will now be returned to his descendants.
The family will meet face-to-face with Smithsonian representatives at the National Museum of the American Indian to retrieve the cover, unseen by any family member since 1926. Miller highlighted the lengthy process, involving report writing and permit applications, expressing relief that it is finally coming to fruition.
Upon their return, the community plans to commemorate the occasion with a celebration and ceremony.
