An emotional event unfolded at Kawacatoose First Nation on Friday as a stolen teepee cover, missing for a century, was finally returned to its rightful owners. Tears were shed by members of the community as the teepee cover was unveiled and raised for a ceremony on the powwow grounds, led by community members in traditional attire singing and drumming.
Kawacatoose Chief Cory (Okimow) Dustyhorn expressed the significance of the return, stating, “It means a lot to us.” The teepee cover, crafted by Cory’s great-great-grandfather Sîpiskwêsîkan, had been unseen by family members since 1926 until its recent discovery in the Smithsonian collection in Washington, D.C.
Cory, accompanied by family members and Indigenous studies professor Andrew Miller, embarked on a 29-hour journey to the National Museum of the American Indian to retrieve the precious artifact. Yolanda Dustyhorn, another descendant of Sîpiskwêsîkan, described the emotional moment of seeing the teepee cover returned to its place of origin as deeply moving and prideful.
After a heartfelt reunion with the Smithsonian representatives, Cory and the group began their journey back home, receiving constant updates from the eager community eagerly awaiting the return of the treasured teepee cover. Affectionately called “moshum” (grandfather in Cree) by the community, the teepee cover symbolizes the return of their stolen heritage.
The teepee cover, laden with historical and cultural significance, will be displayed in Kawacatoose for four days before being transferred to the Royal Saskatchewan Museum in Regina. The repatriation of this cherished artifact marks a poignant moment for the Kawacatoose First Nation, reconnecting them with their cultural heritage and reclaiming a part of their identity.