Sioux Scalp Needs Coverage by Olbermann

If someone had told me that someone would be selling a Sioux scalp online on the 143rd Anniversary of the Sand Creek Massacre; I would have hoped, “Surely nobody would be that barbaric and seeped in genocide denial.” Right? Wrong.

(Photos will be deleted after the scalp is in the proper tribal hands. For verification only)

Olbermann’s contact information

Crossposted at Native American Netroots

The situation has been this. Somebody attempted to make blood money off of the Great Indian Holocaust.

I discovered this by a bulletin.

(From a Mysace bulletin. Private citizens info. has been taken out. News organization info. is left intact throughout)

———– Bulletin Message —————–

Knowing the historical aspect that has happen to native people and the misconception of what “Scalping” mean is wrong… Scalping is what the Europeans’ brought to kill Native people — The policy by the U.S. Government was to “Scalp” Native for money as a form of genocide against native people… Yes… GENOCIDE!!!!  To decimate, destroy, demolish a group of people like they have done to other countries…. What is seen on Ebay is racist and wrong!!!!

Please write to Ebay and tell them if they would also sell “noose” because selling Scalps is just the same!!!!

–(name removed)

RE: Native scalp for bid again on Ebay

—————– Bulletin Message —————–
From: SAVE THE SACRED SITES
Date: Nov 29, 2007 5:07 PM

I wanna puke and then kick ass.
(name removed)

Sioux Scalp on auction at EBAY
[email protected]

Hello everyone, I have received emails from various folks today about the scalp.

Hello everyone,

I have received emails from various folks today about the scalp on auction at EBAY.
So, I wanted to post some info and provide a update about this issue for you all.

Asking EBAY to remove this item, is a good step, however it doesn’t stop
Allard Auctions from selling it elsewhere. They can turn around and sell it
at one of the many auctions available throughout the country, there are
dozens of auction sites and different houses. If they sell it elsewhere,
then this scalp may never be returned to the proper place, back to the
Lakota people.

It is a violation of NAGPRA and federal offense to be in possession of human
remains of any kind.

Title 18, United States Code, Section 1170 – Illegal Trafficking in Native
American Human Remains and Cultural Items: Prohibits the sale of the human
remains or cultural artifacts of Native Americans without the right of
possession of those items in accordance with the Native American Graves
Protection and Repatriation Act.

I have alerted the proper agencies and people at NAGPRA of this item, they
are going to take immediate action and will be proceeding in confiscating
this item, from these )(*&^%$#@!, that have this on auction. The auction
ends on Dec 2nd, so they are going to need to move very quickly on this,
which they stated they will. From what I was told, this Allard Auctions has
already had previous violations for attempting to sell illegal items, such
as this scalp. So, this should be interesting to see what consequences that
they receive for another violation. There could be a substantial fine
involved. Personally I hope that they take away their auction license, ban
them from EBAYall together, throw their sorry butts in the pen and throw
away the key. Somehow stiffer penalties and prison sentencing needs to be
enacted, to stop these grave robbers and collectors, instead of a slap on the
hand. The lack of enforcement and resources in each state is part of the
challenge with this issue. Unless it gets reported by someone, they usually
don’t get caught. I am sure glad that the person who did catch this, sent
out the plea request! This is a never endless battle.

The first step will be, to get this item authenticated, confirm it’s what
they are saying it is. Then, once the scalp is confiscated from Allard,
NAGPRA will go thru the process of getting it repatriated back to the Tribe.
That of course can take some time, but at least it will happen eventually,
instead of it being sold to some other yahoo collector to put on display.

The other option would have been to contact these folks directly and attempt
to get them to donate the item back to the tribe, where it belongs. I
couldn’t see that happening, from the looks of their auction site, they are
greedy people making a buck off of selling various artifacts. If they were
just a private person, this was a one time deal, then maybe we would have
had a chance at the other way. I remember a couple years ago, there was a
full set of remains of a young ndn girl on auction at EBAY. I don’t
understand why EBAY can’t monitor these people somehow…..sheesh…….they
need a serious policy revamping I would think!

I am suppose to follow up with them on Tuesday for a update what has been
done, if I don’t hear from them prior to that.

Here is the direct link for the item on EBAY
http://cgi.liveauctions.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320179572299#ebayphotohosting.
And the link to report this to EBAY
http://pages.ebay.com/help/contact_us/_base/index_4.html?tier0=report_listing.js&item=320179572299

Hope it helps………….I will do what I can with this one.

In peace & solidarity,
Tamra
www.NDNnews.com
www.protectsacredsites.org
“Providing news and information about Native American Issues & Causes”
“Helping to make a difference for our people in Indian Country, one day at a time. What will you do today to help make a difference?”

“Our sacred lands are all that remain keeping us connected to our place on Mother Earth, to our spirituality, our heritage and our lands; what’s left of them. If they take it all away, what will remain except a vague memory of a past so forgotten?”

I then posted a quick diary about it here.

To the fantastic efforts of all involved, which touched my heart enormously, it was taken off eBay and Allard. However, this generally remains the case as far as I know,

They (Allard Auctions) can turn around and sell it at one of the many auctions available throughout the country, there are dozens of auction sites and different houses. If they sell it elsewhere, then this scalp may never be returned to the proper place…

while this specifically is the case today.
(another bulletin citing someone at www.UnitedNativeAmerica.com).

Steve Allard of Allard Auctions, Inc. returned my call this morning (Sat.) and stated to me that the Indian scalp had been pulled and other items from the auctions list to be sold. He also stated the FBI had been there checking all items that they had up for auction and they will most likely be at the auction to make sure any items that are not on the list are not sold at the event.

The auction starts today at 12:00 AZ. time and tomorrow at 10:00 (Sunday) at the Holiday Inn Mesa AZ. Steve also stated that this was a privet collection and part of a museum that is having financial problems, this also happen to a museum some years back in Flag Staff AZ. Steve stated that he had been contacted by tribal leaders about the scalp and they also plan to be at the auction, they are working with Steve to see that the scalp is return to a tribal nation. Tribal leaders will also be buying items to keep them out of the hands of privet collectors.

Allard Auctions, Inc.

888-314-0343

(406) 745-0502

e-mail: [email protected]

Steve Allard, President email: [email protected]

Please don’t contact Allard, the information is for Keith Olbermann.

Keith Olbermann (email here)

Now, I’ve already written thatI Want Olbermann to Cover Pretty Bird Woman House,

I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired of the main television media ignoring American Indian issues in general, and I’m even more sick and tired of conservative personalities spewing their racist venom towards American Indians. I think Olbermann would cover the critical issue of Pretty Bird Woman House  if he were asked to by enough of us…

and many wrote letters after that request. Thankyou from my bottom of my heart. Furthermore, to my knowledge he hasn’t covered it yet.
So if I understand this correctly, today through Dec 2nd are crucial times to recover the scalp.

So come on Olbermann, what do you say?