Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Tumpline Returns Home After Decades in New York Museum
A Sḵwx̱wú7mesh tumpline, stolen from Sen̓áḵw village, returns home after 2024 museum discovery. Chief Janice George's emotional journey to repatriate cultural heritage.
A Woven Jewel Returns Home
After decades in the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in New York, a Sḵwx̱wú7mesh tumpline—once part of Sen̓áḵw village’s cultural heritage—has found its way back to its ancestral home. The discovery, made during a 2024 visit by Chief Janice George and her husband Buddy Joseph, marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing repatriation of Indigenous artifacts.
A Moment of Recognition
George, a Sḵwx̱wú7mesh master weaver and hereditary chief, had previously visited AMNH to examine Coast Salish weavings. During a 2024 trip to research an exhibition at Seattle’s Burke Museum, she and Joseph were unexpectedly shown a tumpline they had never seen before. The piece, described as a 'woven jewel,' was crafted with fine wool, vibrant colors, and meticulous attention to detail.
Joseph traced the artifact’s origins to Sen̓áḵw, the ancient Sḵwx̱wú7mesh village where George served as a cultural advisor. 'It was just mind-blowing,' George recalled. 'I felt like the ancestors were affirming we were on the right path.'
A Journey of Cultural Reconnection
At 73 and 69, George and Joseph have spent years traveling globally to locate and repatriate Sḵwx̱wú7mesh artifacts. Their work is driven by a belief that these items carry knowledge and history for future generations. 'This is work we’re meant to do,' George said, echoing her husband’s words.
The tumpline now resides in George’s exhibition Gifts to be Shared, Protected, and Carried Forward at the Museum of N, where it will be displayed until March 2027. The piece symbolizes not only a return to its origin but also a reclamation of cultural identity and continuity.
The Bigger Picture
This repatriation reflects a growing movement across Indigenous communities to reclaim artifacts held in Western institutions. For George, the return of the tumpline is more than a physical act—it’s a spiritual and cultural affirmation. 'The energy comes with the work,' she said, emphasizing the deep connection between the artifact and its people.