DENVER — The Denver Museum of Nature & Science plans to repatriate a sacred hair ornament to the Southern Ute Indian Tribe of the Southern Ute Reservation in Colorado.
In Brief:
- Denver museum to return sacred hair ornament to Ute Tribe
- Item is used in Native American religious ceremonies
- Originally owned by Southern Ute leader Buckskin Charley
- Repatriation follows federal NAGPRA guidelines
The object, identified as a sacred item, is used in traditional Native American religious practices and is culturally affiliated with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. The ornament measures about four inches in diameter and features a triangular beaded design, a silver concha and bear claws.
Originally owned by Buckskin Charley, a prominent Southern Ute leader, the ornament changed hands several times before it was donated to the museum in 1968…