The Yale Peabody Museum has formally returned a collection of sacred regalia used in the Ghost Dance ceremonies of the late 1800s to the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma. The items, which include buckskin shirts and ceremonial fans, were acquired by the museum in the early 20th century under circumstances now recognized as unethical. This return marks a significant step in Yale's ongoing effort to fulfill NAGPRA requirements and build trust with Indigenous communities.
The Pawnee Nation's Cultural Resource Division stated that the items are not merely museum pieces but living spirits of their ancestors. The regalia will be used in private tribal ceremonies to honor the history of the Ghost Dance movement, which was a period of spiritual revival and resistance against colonial displacement.