Gallup, N.M., May 30, 2016 / 15:02 pm
Native Americans say a French auction house should return their sacred objects set to go on sale, and they have an ally in Bishop James S. Wall of Gallup, N.M.
"My first reaction to this story was one of great sadness. It's tragic that this desire for personal profit from the sale of sacred objects is the ultimate goal," Bishop Wall said. "These objects are sacred to the pueblo people and they belong to the whole community."
The items come from tribes including the Hopi, Pueblo and Zuni as well as the prehistoric Hohokam tribe.
Other objects to be auctioned off include a ceremonial shield of the Acoma Pueblo, whose territory is in the region of the Gallup diocese.