The Wyoming Episcopal Diocese is set to return approximately 200 cultural artifacts to the Northern Arapaho tribe on Monday, marking a significant step in the tribe’s years-long effort for repatriation, the Washington Post reports.
The items have been in the church’s possession since 1946, when they were given to the church by a local store owner who bartered for them from Native residents.
The return of these artifacts comes amid a broader national conversation regarding the recognition of past injustices faced by Native American tribes. Indigenous activists have called for the nation to confront its history, and the federal government has recently tightened regulations to facilitate the return of tribal items. This year, under the Biden administration, the federal holiday that falls on Monday has been designated to honor both Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
The items being returned to the Northern Arapaho tribe include a variety of cultural objects, such as children’s toys, bows and arrows, and traditional dresses. Jordan Dresser, a former chairman of the Northern Arapaho tribe and a key figure in the repatriation effort, expressed his emotional connection to the return.
“This is a huge win for us. This is for the future. This is us being able to hold on to our culture and our legacy,” Dresser stated.
He highlighted the significance of the repatriation effort, noting that the battle for the return of artifacts has been ongoing for many years.
Megan Nickles, chair of the standing committee of the Wyoming Episcopal Church, acknowledged that the return of the artifacts is long overdue.
“We hope that their return is the beginning of reconciliation, healing and shared community between the Episcopal Church in Wyoming and the Northern Arapaho people,” she said.
Nickles also encouraged other institutions holding sacred items to consider returning them to their rightful owners.
Dresser mentioned that the artifacts will eventually be displayed in a museum on the Wind River Reservation, where the Northern Arapaho people can learn about their heritage. The return of these items is part of a larger movement among Native American tribes across the United States to reclaim their cultural heritage, including human remains and sacred items, from museums and institutions.
The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), enacted in 1990, requires museums and federal agencies to identify and return sacred items to their respective cultural groups. Although compliance with NAGPRA has been slow, recent federal actions have aimed to strengthen the law and set deadlines for compliance. Following these changes, various museums across the country have begun to reevaluate their collections of Native American artifacts.
The artifacts from the Wyoming Episcopal Church were amassed by Edith May Adams, who served at St. Michael’s Mission in Ethete, Wyoming. Adams collected the items from Native residents who would trade them for necessities. After being held for 78 years, the items are finally set to return home to the Northern Arapaho tribe.
As the tribe prepares for the ceremony to honor the return of the artifacts, Dresser emphasized the importance of this moment.
“It’s up to us what we want to do next,” he said.
