Post by blackcrowheart on Jun 23, 2008 17:17:05 GMT -5
Tribe Pleads for Artifacts
Posted by: "Kapoonis1959@aol.com" Kapoonis1959@aol.com anahooey
Thu Jun 21, 2007 9:35 am (PST)
BARRE- American Indians who believe the spirits of their ancestors are
trapped among items from the 1890 Wounded Knee, S.D., massacre in a museum at the
Henry Woods Memorial Library plan to visit the facility and hold a peaceful
protest later this month.
The group hopes to encourage library officials to return the artifacts to
tribe members during a visit slated for June 30.
Peter Bormuth, one of the organizers of the event, said that since members
of the Lakota Sioux tribe of South Dakota first visited the library in 1993,
only one of about 100 artifacts displayed there has been repatriated, despite
requests that the items be returned to the tribe.
A lock of hair believed to have been taken from the body of Chief Big Foot,
the Sioux leader at Wounded Knee, was returned to his great-great-grandson,
Leonard Little Finger, in 2000. The hair was burned in a sacred ceremony to
release Big Foot´s soul, in accordance with the tribe´s beliefs.
While he is not an American Indian, Mr. Bormuth has, along with a handful of
others, taken up the cause.
Organizers expect to be joined by Alex White Plume, a past president of the
Oglala Lakota Tribe; Mr. Little Finger; Rebecca Three Stars, who is the
descendant of a Wounded Knee victim; and John Fusco, screenwriter of the movie "
Hidalgo."
Mr. Bormuth said tribe members were told during earlier visits to the museum
several years ago that items would be repatriated, but an inactive member of
the library association said that´s not the case.
"At one time, they were hoping to obtain some items," John Cirelli said. "
But no promises were made."
Mr. Cirelli recalled the 1993 visit and said he smoked a pipe with some
tribe members. He said they seemed satisfied with the respectful way the items
were displayed and there was no agreement to return anything at that time.
Still, a 1993 article published in The New York Times quotes then-Librarian
James Sullivan as saying, "Eventually it (the collection) will be repatriated.
"
At that time, some were concerned over the Sioux tribe´s plans to burn or
bury sacred artifacts, and they worried the tribe would place the delicate
items in storage because they have no appropriate place to display them.
Mr. Bormuth said what becomes of the items should be of no concern to anyone
but the rightful owners.
"It is our contention that the Lakota have the right to do anything they
want with these artifacts when they are returned," he said via e-mail. "These
things are the property of their people, stripped from the bodies of their
ancestors on a field of infamy." About 300 Indians, including Big Foot, were
massacred at Wounded Knee by members of the 7th U.S. Cavalry.
The collection came to Barre more than a century ago, when it was brought to
the area by Frank R. Root. Among the items is a Ghost Dance shirt similar to
one returned to the tribe in 1998 from Glasgow, Scotland. The collection
also includes scalps, umbilical cord medicine bags, beaded items and sacred
pipes.
Under the federal Repatriation Act, the items would have to be returned if
the library had ever taken federal funding.
Mr. Cirelli said the library has not used such money because trustees never
saw the need. He said keeping the collection was not a consideration in the
decision to avoid using federal funding.
The library recently lost its state certification after refusing to accept
state funding. The facility can no longer borrow materials through the
interlibrary loan service. Librarian James K. Knowlton has said the move was part of
a rebuilding plan.
Mr. Bormuth said the protest next week will be peaceful and include a
purification (smudging), an opening invocation, speeches, poetry, drumming, singing
and chanting. He is hopeful that there will also be opportunities to view
the museum.
Tiokasin Ghosthorse of New York, whose great-great-grandmother survived the
massacre, said he believes the Repatriation Act should extend beyond its
current limits to "people´s conscience."
He said in a telephone interview that since the items were taken at a time
of terror, those who think they are preserving the items are likely being
affected by the negative energy.
"Once the native people receive these things back, and they will, there will
be great blessings," he said.
Mr. Ghosthorse said he has not seen the museum and though he would like to,
he finds such visits difficult.
"It´s like seeing myself on display," he said. "As a kid, I got sick
(visiting a museum display). I felt like I was dead."
Mr. Knowlton said yesterday he has been told not to discuss the issue.
Calls made to the association president and the group´s lawyer were not
returned last night.
Posted by: "Kapoonis1959@aol.com" Kapoonis1959@aol.com anahooey
Thu Jun 21, 2007 9:35 am (PST)
BARRE- American Indians who believe the spirits of their ancestors are
trapped among items from the 1890 Wounded Knee, S.D., massacre in a museum at the
Henry Woods Memorial Library plan to visit the facility and hold a peaceful
protest later this month.
The group hopes to encourage library officials to return the artifacts to
tribe members during a visit slated for June 30.
Peter Bormuth, one of the organizers of the event, said that since members
of the Lakota Sioux tribe of South Dakota first visited the library in 1993,
only one of about 100 artifacts displayed there has been repatriated, despite
requests that the items be returned to the tribe.
A lock of hair believed to have been taken from the body of Chief Big Foot,
the Sioux leader at Wounded Knee, was returned to his great-great-grandson,
Leonard Little Finger, in 2000. The hair was burned in a sacred ceremony to
release Big Foot´s soul, in accordance with the tribe´s beliefs.
While he is not an American Indian, Mr. Bormuth has, along with a handful of
others, taken up the cause.
Organizers expect to be joined by Alex White Plume, a past president of the
Oglala Lakota Tribe; Mr. Little Finger; Rebecca Three Stars, who is the
descendant of a Wounded Knee victim; and John Fusco, screenwriter of the movie "
Hidalgo."
Mr. Bormuth said tribe members were told during earlier visits to the museum
several years ago that items would be repatriated, but an inactive member of
the library association said that´s not the case.
"At one time, they were hoping to obtain some items," John Cirelli said. "
But no promises were made."
Mr. Cirelli recalled the 1993 visit and said he smoked a pipe with some
tribe members. He said they seemed satisfied with the respectful way the items
were displayed and there was no agreement to return anything at that time.
Still, a 1993 article published in The New York Times quotes then-Librarian
James Sullivan as saying, "Eventually it (the collection) will be repatriated.
"
At that time, some were concerned over the Sioux tribe´s plans to burn or
bury sacred artifacts, and they worried the tribe would place the delicate
items in storage because they have no appropriate place to display them.
Mr. Bormuth said what becomes of the items should be of no concern to anyone
but the rightful owners.
"It is our contention that the Lakota have the right to do anything they
want with these artifacts when they are returned," he said via e-mail. "These
things are the property of their people, stripped from the bodies of their
ancestors on a field of infamy." About 300 Indians, including Big Foot, were
massacred at Wounded Knee by members of the 7th U.S. Cavalry.
The collection came to Barre more than a century ago, when it was brought to
the area by Frank R. Root. Among the items is a Ghost Dance shirt similar to
one returned to the tribe in 1998 from Glasgow, Scotland. The collection
also includes scalps, umbilical cord medicine bags, beaded items and sacred
pipes.
Under the federal Repatriation Act, the items would have to be returned if
the library had ever taken federal funding.
Mr. Cirelli said the library has not used such money because trustees never
saw the need. He said keeping the collection was not a consideration in the
decision to avoid using federal funding.
The library recently lost its state certification after refusing to accept
state funding. The facility can no longer borrow materials through the
interlibrary loan service. Librarian James K. Knowlton has said the move was part of
a rebuilding plan.
Mr. Bormuth said the protest next week will be peaceful and include a
purification (smudging), an opening invocation, speeches, poetry, drumming, singing
and chanting. He is hopeful that there will also be opportunities to view
the museum.
Tiokasin Ghosthorse of New York, whose great-great-grandmother survived the
massacre, said he believes the Repatriation Act should extend beyond its
current limits to "people´s conscience."
He said in a telephone interview that since the items were taken at a time
of terror, those who think they are preserving the items are likely being
affected by the negative energy.
"Once the native people receive these things back, and they will, there will
be great blessings," he said.
Mr. Ghosthorse said he has not seen the museum and though he would like to,
he finds such visits difficult.
"It´s like seeing myself on display," he said. "As a kid, I got sick
(visiting a museum display). I felt like I was dead."
Mr. Knowlton said yesterday he has been told not to discuss the issue.
Calls made to the association president and the group´s lawyer were not
returned last night.