A professor from Saskatchewan uncovered a piece of the region’s past at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., which is now being returned. Andrew Miller, who teaches Indigenous studies at the First Nations University of Canada, stumbled upon a teepee cover stolen from the Kawacatoose First Nation nearly a century ago while researching birds using the Smithsonian’s inventory.
The cover was taken during the 1920s, but the family preserved its story through generations. Miller recalled a student mentioning their belongings in prominent U.S. museums, prompting him to investigate further. Upon spotting the teepee cover labeled “Dustyhorn—File Hills” with an acquisition date of 1926, Miller connected with Cory Dustyhorn, the current chief of Kawacatoose First Nation, to share his discovery.
Dustyhorn confirmed the tale of his great-great-grandfather Sîpiskwêsîkan’s stolen teepee cover, promised payment but never received. Collaborating with Dustyhorn, Miller contacted the museum, with the Smithsonian showing understanding and willingness to repatriate the artifact.
Acknowledging past unethical acquisitions, the Smithsonian initiated a shared stewardship and ethical returns policy in 2022 to rectify previous transgressions. Now, after a century, the teepee is being returned to its rightful community, strengthening ties between descendants like Dustyhorn and their heritage. Plans are underway to establish a museum on Kawacatoose to exhibit the teepee, currently housed at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum in Regina.
