A professor from Saskatchewan made an intriguing discovery in the Smithsonian’s collection in Washington, D.C., leading to the repatriation of a stolen teepee cover back to the Kawacatoose First Nation. Andrew Miller, an Indigenous studies professor at the First Nations University of Canada, came across the teepee cover labeled “Dustyhorn—File Hills” with an acquisition date of 1926 while studying birds using the Smithsonian’s catalogue. The cover, taken from the Kawacatoose First Nation in the 1920s, has been a part of family stories passed down through generations.
Upon finding the teepee cover in the Smithsonian’s collection, Miller connected with Cory Dustyhorn, the current chief of Kawacatoose First Nation. Dustyhorn shared the story of his great-great-grandfather Sîpiskwêsîkan’s stolen teepee cover, for which payment was promised but never received. With the help of Dustyhorn, Miller initiated contact with the museum, which showed understanding and openness towards repatriating the teepee cover.
The Smithsonian acknowledged past unethical acquisition practices, particularly through intermediaries like the Indian Agent, and adopted a shared stewardship and ethical returns policy in 2022 to address these issues. Following discussions with Dustyhorn, the museum verified the oral history of the teepee’s acquisition, confirming its Alaskan origins before coming to Saskatchewan.
After a century, the teepee cover is finally returning to its rightful home community, a move that Dustyhorn believes will strengthen the connection between his ancestors, his family, and the community. Plans are underway to establish a museum at Kawacatoose to exhibit the teepee cover, but in the interim, it will be housed at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum in Regina.