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Although repatriation of the following Ghost Dance shirt from Scotland
was not covered by NAGPRA, it may set a precedent for the return of
sacred objects from other countries.
Ghost Dance shirt
returns to South Dakota
A
Ghost Dance shirt that has been in the Kelvingrove Museum in Glasgow,
Scotland since 1892 has been returned to the Wounded Knee Survivors
Association.
Glasgow City Councilors Liz Cameron and John Lynch, along with
Kelvingrove Museum curator Mark O’Neill, came from Scotland to present
the shirt to the WKSA during repatriation ceremonies.
On August 2, 1999, the shirt was turned over to the Museum of the South
Dakota State Historical Society. Under a curation agreement with the
WKSA, the state museum will provide for the security and preservation of
the Ghost Dance shirt until such time as the association is able to
build a museum of its own.
The Kelvingrove Museum acquired the Ghost Dance shirt in 1892 from
George C. Crager, a member of the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show. In 1993
the Wounded Knee Survivors Association initiated a repatriation request
for the garment. In April 1995 a delegation, led by Mario Gonzalez and
Marcella LaBeau, visited Glasgow to negotiate for the return of the
shirt and in November 1998 the Glasgow City Council voted to repatriate
the shirt. |
