A professor from Saskatchewan uncovered a significant piece of the province’s history within the Smithsonian collection in Washington, D.C., and is now facilitating its return. Andrew Miller, an Indigenous studies professor at the First Nations University of Canada, came across a teepee cover stolen from Kawacatoose First Nation about a century ago while researching birds using the Smithsonian’s holdings catalog.
The cover went missing in the 1920s, but the family has preserved its story across generations. Miller recalled a student mentioning that their belongings were in prominent U.S. museums, sparking his interest in the teepee cover labeled “Dustyhorn—File Hills” with an acquisition date of 1926.
Recognizing Dustyhorns in Touchwood, Sask., Miller contacted Cory Dustyhorn, the current chief of Kawacatoose First Nation, regarding the finding. Dustyhorn confirmed the story of his great-great-grandfather Sîpiskwêsîkan’s stolen teepee cover, for which payment was promised but never received.
After collaborating with Dustyhorn, Miller engaged with the Smithsonian, which showed understanding and openness throughout the process. Acknowledging past cultural insensitivity, Miller quoted the Smithsonian as recognizing the need to reassess their collection practices from a modern ethical standpoint.
The museum agreed to repatriate the teepee cover but emphasized the importance of returning it to the rightful community. Dustyhorn shared his family’s oral history with the museum, linking the acquisition of the teepee in 1926 to an expedition that originated in Alaska, aligning with their traditional narrative.
The Smithsonian admitted to historical unethical acquisitions facilitated by Indian Agents acting as intermediaries between Indigenous owners and buyers. In 2022, the museum implemented a shared stewardship and ethical returns policy to address past injustices and uphold ethical standards in collection practices.
A century after its theft, the teepee cover is set to return to its original community, a move Dustyhorn believes will deepen the bond between his ancestors, his family, and the entire Kawacatoose community. Plans are underway to establish a museum in Kawacatoose to exhibit the teepee, currently housed at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum in Regina.