For over a century, a battered suitcase filled with Native American artifacts quietly passed through five generations of the Newell family. Inside were treasures that told a story of history, heritage, and eventual reconciliation: a fringed shirt adorned with intricate beadwork, a pair of worn moccasins, and a majestic headdress crafted from eagle feathers, their grandeur undimmed by time.
The story behind these items, passed down alongside the suitcase, traced back to Major Cicero Newell, a federal official in the late 19th century. According to family lore, Newell had received the items from Chief Spotted Tail, a respected Lakota leader, during his tenure as an agent for the federal government’s Indian affairs office in what is now South Dakota.
For decades, the suitcase sat tucked away in closets, occasionally brought out to impress visitors. But when the time came to hand it down to the sixth generation, a conversation at a family dinner table led to a different plan.
A Turning Point for the Newell Family
James Newell, a 77-year-old retired salesman in Washington State and the great-great-grandson of Cicero Newell, was preparing to pass the heirlooms on to his children. However, his son Eric suggested something radical: returning the items to the Lakota people.
“‘Well, Dad, why don’t we try giving it back?’” Eric asked.
The suggestion resonated. Although James had long cherished the artifacts as part of his family’s history, the idea of repatriation felt like the right thing to do. “It felt right,” he recalled.
Thus began the process of researching the suitcase’s history and identifying who should receive the heirlooms. It was no small task, given the ambiguities surrounding how Cicero Newell had originally obtained the items.
A Historical Legacy
The suitcase’s contents, particularly the eagle-feather headdress, were deeply symbolic. Chief Spotted Tail was a prominent Lakota leader who navigated the fraught period of forced relocations and treaties with the U.S. government. The exact nature of his relationship with Cicero Newell remains unclear, clouded by the passing decades and fragmentary family recollections.
Cicero Newell’s career as a federal agent in the late 1870s placed him at the center of a tumultuous era in U.S.-Native American relations. He likely encountered Spotted Tail during his work with the Indian affairs office, but the details of their exchange—whether it was a gift, trade, or something else—remain uncertain.
The Shift Toward Repatriation
The Newell family's decision reflects a growing trend in which younger generations are more inclined to return cultural artifacts to their rightful communities. While museums and institutions are bound by the 1990 Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) to return human remains and cultural artifacts, private families are not legally obligated to do so. Yet many individuals, motivated by a sense of ethical responsibility, are taking steps to return these items voluntarily.
Eric Newell, 46, expressed the family’s rationale succinctly: “Priority No. 1 was to get it into the hands of somebody who is going to take care of it and maintain it.”
Researching the Path to Repatriation
James Newell began researching the suitcase and its contents, digging into both family stories and historical records. The suitcase, initially intended to pass to the eldest son of each generation, had come to James instead after his older brother declined to keep it. Practical concerns played a role—his brother, a logger, felt the artifacts wouldn’t be safe in his remote mountain trailer.
Unraveling the full history of the artifacts proved challenging. Like many family heirlooms, the story had become a blend of fact, memory, and interpretation, muddled by years of retelling. Still, the family pieced together enough to guide their decision to repatriate the items.
A Broader Impulse for Return
The Newell family’s story is one of many playing out across the United States, as families rediscover Native artifacts in attics, basements, and closets. These items often carry complicated legacies, tied to a history of colonialism and cultural appropriation.
For some families, the decision to repatriate is spurred by a sense of ethical responsibility. Others are motivated by practical concerns or a disinterest in preserving what earlier generations saw as exotic curiosities.
Experts in repatriation note that younger generations are often at the forefront of these decisions, reflecting shifting attitudes toward cultural heritage and historical accountability.
A Gesture of Reconciliation
Ultimately, the Newells’ choice to return the artifacts was about ensuring they were preserved and valued by the people to whom they truly belonged. The process also served as an opportunity to reconnect with history in a meaningful way, transforming the suitcase from a family relic into a symbol of reconciliation and respect.
As the Newell family works to finalize the repatriation, the act stands as a testament to the evolving understanding of cultural heritage and the importance of righting historical wrongs. It marks a small but significant step toward honoring the legacy of Chief Spotted Tail and the broader Lakota community, ensuring that the treasures of their history are returned to their rightful home.
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