The Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American Indian has successfully completed the repatriation of three sacred 19th-century clan crests to the Tlingit people of Hoonah, Alaska. The items, which include an intricately carved Raven-Sockeye hat and two ceremonial house posts, were originally removed from the region in the early 1900s. The return marks the culmination of a decade of collaboration between museum curators and tribal elders to determine the correct lineage and ceremonial status of the artifacts.
The Tlingit delegation emphasized that these objects are considered At.oow (sacred property), and their return is essential for the spiritual health of the community. A formal 'potlatch' ceremony is planned for the coming months to re-integrate the crests into their traditional clan houses. This repatriation follows a recent shift in museum policy that prioritizes the return of objects deemed central to the 'living heritage' of indigenous nations, even when legal title was historically established.