A professor from Saskatchewan uncovered a significant piece of the province’s history at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., and is now bringing it back home. Andrew Miller, an Indigenous studies professor at the First Nations University of Canada, stumbled upon a teepee cover that was taken from the Kawacatoose First Nation about a century ago while researching birds using the Smithsonian’s catalog.
The teepee cover, labeled “Dustyhorn—File Hills” with an acquisition date of 1926, caught Miller’s attention. He recognized the Dustyhorns in Touchwood, Sask., and reached out to Cory Dustyhorn, the current chief of Kawacatoose First Nation, to share his discovery.
Cory Dustyhorn confirmed the story of his great-great-grandfather Sîpiskwêsîkan’s stolen teepee cover, which was promised to be paid for but never was. Miller and Dustyhorn contacted the museum, where the Smithsonian was cooperative and understanding throughout the process.
Acknowledging the historical injustices, the Smithsonian expressed willingness to repatriate the teepee cover and ensure it returned to the rightful community. The museum’s recent adoption of a shared stewardship and ethical returns policy aims to rectify past unethical practices.
After a century, the teepee cover is finally making its way back to its home community, Kawacatoose. Dustyhorn expressed that the return of the teepee will strengthen the connection between his ancestor, his family, and the entire community. Plans are underway to eventually display the teepee at a museum in Kawacatoose, but for now, it will be housed at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum in Regina.