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There Is Some Good in the World
Dec. 17th, 2013 09:55 amThese days, reading the front page of the New York Times is an exercise in agony. From the inhuman horrors occurring in Syria and Central Africa to the unending political stalemates at home, there's little there that makes me feel anything more than informed.
This morning was an exception. Front and center on the New York Times homepage was this story: Secret Bids Guide Hopi Indian Spirits Home (sorry - registration required, but you can download a PDF here).
I'd been following this story for a while. A number of sacred Hopi artifacts, long held by collectors in France (probably looted by tourists a hundred years ago), was going up for auction. The Hopi had sued in France, trying to prevent the sale and have the objects returned to the tribe. The tribe believes that these artifacts not simply religious, but living entities with divine spirits. They are meant to be used in spiritual ceremonies or are retired and left to disintegrate naturally.
The French courts ruled against them and the auction went forward. It was expected that these sacred items - including Katsinam, vibrantly decorated headdresses - would be sold to other collectors or museums.
However, there are good and true people in this world.
Gregory Annenberg Weingarten, vice-president of the Annenberg Foundation, who had been following the case, decided to step in. He had the foundation approve a fund of up $1 million to buy the Hopi artifacts, plus three Apache artifacts, and return them to their rightful place.
With great secrecy, the Annenberg foundation bid on all of the items and was able to purchase all but three. One of the three - a sacred Hopi headdress featuring antelope antlers, had been bought on behalf of other philanthropists who had instructed their buyer obtain what he could as a gift to the Hopis.
Yes, it is a bitter thing when anyone spiritual patrimony become highly sought, expensive commodities. But knowing that there are still people in this world who care enough to help those without power to prevent such a miscarriage offsets the bitterness.
This morning was an exception. Front and center on the New York Times homepage was this story: Secret Bids Guide Hopi Indian Spirits Home (sorry - registration required, but you can download a PDF here).
I'd been following this story for a while. A number of sacred Hopi artifacts, long held by collectors in France (probably looted by tourists a hundred years ago), was going up for auction. The Hopi had sued in France, trying to prevent the sale and have the objects returned to the tribe. The tribe believes that these artifacts not simply religious, but living entities with divine spirits. They are meant to be used in spiritual ceremonies or are retired and left to disintegrate naturally.
The French courts ruled against them and the auction went forward. It was expected that these sacred items - including Katsinam, vibrantly decorated headdresses - would be sold to other collectors or museums.
However, there are good and true people in this world.
Gregory Annenberg Weingarten, vice-president of the Annenberg Foundation, who had been following the case, decided to step in. He had the foundation approve a fund of up $1 million to buy the Hopi artifacts, plus three Apache artifacts, and return them to their rightful place.
With great secrecy, the Annenberg foundation bid on all of the items and was able to purchase all but three. One of the three - a sacred Hopi headdress featuring antelope antlers, had been bought on behalf of other philanthropists who had instructed their buyer obtain what he could as a gift to the Hopis.
Yes, it is a bitter thing when anyone spiritual patrimony become highly sought, expensive commodities. But knowing that there are still people in this world who care enough to help those without power to prevent such a miscarriage offsets the bitterness.
