Judge grants warrant for US tribal shield sent to Paris
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A judge has granted a federal prosecutor’s request to issue a warrant for the return of a tribal ceremonial shield that had been sent to Paris for auction years after it was reported stolen.
Federal authorities and tribal leaders say the shield was swiped from an Acoma Pueblo home in New Mexico in the 1970s before eventually being sent to France, where U.S. laws barring the sale of tribal ceremonial items typically hold no weight.
Court documents do not indicate where the shield has been stored or held in the months since EVE Auction House pulled it from the auction block in May on the day it was set to go before bidders.
The judge’s decision Wednesday comes a month after the U.S. attorney’s office filed a motion requesting the warrant.
News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Join the Conversation!
Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?
You must be logged in to post a comment.
