PIERRE (KCCR) –The South Dakota State Historical Society accepted the donation this week of historic Native American artifacts. The artifacts including a headdress, clothing, moccasins and other items were given as a gift by Chief Spotted Tail to Major Cicero Newell approximately 140 year ago…
State Historical Society Director Dr. Ben Jones says Spotted Tail and Newell became good friends in the 1870’s and the items were given to Newell as a sign of that friendship. Newell’s great-great grandson James Newell says Cicero set forth his intentions for the gifts through time…
In 2022 Newell and his son reached out the Chief John Spotted Tail wanting to return the gifts…
The items were repatriated tot he Spotted Tail family in August of 2022. They were donated to the Historical Society in order to share them will all who wish to learn from and honor their shared history.
