under the title: 71 Hopi and Zuni Masks to be Auctioned in Paris. A lot of people comented on their post. I just copied and pasted the comments.
ICTMN Staff
March 07, 2013
On April 12, a
collection of 71 Hopi and Zuni masks will be auctioned by Neret-Minet at the
Druout Richelieu gallery and auction house in Paris, France. The array of
katsinam masks was amassed by a collector over the course of 30 years, and date
to the late 19th and early 20th century, according to the description at Druout.com (a translated
version can be found at ArtDaily.org).
"The idea
that a people would dedicate so much time and energy to the rise of celestial
bodies fascinated our collector," reads the auction's description.
"In his collection, the CROW MOTHER mask, Angwusnasomtaqa in the Hopi
language, held pride of place, and he had to wait over 20 years to attend the
Powamu rituals in early February, the only time the mother of all the Katsinam
appears in the village. By his own admission, you have to see the masks in
dances to fully appreciate them."
The text goes on
to describe ten other masks being auctioned.
"Under
American law [the masks] should be repatriated to the Hopi Nation," the
blogger writes. "The auction house knows this, from their good description
of the pieces on can easily deduct that they know about the power of these
friends but prefer the power of cash and carry. Katsinam should never be sold
on the auction block. The sadness on Hopi is immeasurable. The art stolen under
the Nazi regime is also in the process of being returned to their original
owners families. Let the same rule be applied."
POST A COMMENT
14 Comments
Very Traditional
This is a very
sad and disappointing event to hear about! Any kind of ceremonial or religious
Native artifact needs to be returned to their decsendants not only here in the
states but from around the world. We need to form an organization where we have
people looking out for objects being sold or auctioned off like this case and
use the power and knowledge that the Great Spirit gave us to bring our
ancestors and implements home where they belong. "The Spirits are not
happy, neither am I."
Thu, 03/07/2013 - 19:11
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indianmedicine
It is so
interesting that NAI Culture has recognized "ET's", influencing this
World;when conventional Science denied any "Life Force" off this
Planet. Through the "Art & Ceremony", NAI have taught their
Generations of the vast Celestial Bodies that are just now being recognized and
told to the General Public and Science's that NAI have always called "The
Great Mystery of The Creator". Conventional European Thought publicly
denied the existence of Extra Terrestrial Life, Beings, and Space Travel -
where NAI in their Art captured the very essence of what the European Mind
denied; and Secret Societies taught in their "Schools of Thought".
Look at the Anasazi Ancient One's and their Legacy Painted on Canyon Walls -
which includes ET existence, visitation, and interface with "The
People".
Thu, 03/07/2013 - 20:24
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margarita fox
It is my
understanding that many "friends" were stolen from the Kiva at First
Mesa approximately thirty years ago -- interesting that this "collector"
began accumulating them "thirty years ago". Unless the collector is
Native American he would not have been permitted to see the dances on the Mesa
at any time. These should be returned to the Hopi. They carry a power that
helps all mankind and can destroy those who hoard them.
Fri, 03/08/2013 - 01:32
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proud indian
first our land
now our religion and beliefs... its just plain disgusting!!
Fri, 03/08/2013 - 06:10
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A random Navajo
Man this is what
I call a double standard, the French get all of their art stolen by the Nazi's
back, yet the Hopi who are Indigenous Americans can't even get there sacred
objects back even though according to law it is theirs. It is almost disgusting
to see that for a people whom respect human rights that they cannot respect our
rights as a people.
Fri, 03/08/2013 - 09:30
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Joe Abodeely
I have been the
CEO of the Arizona Military Museum for a third of a century. Arizona's rich and
colorful history was forged by the militaries of the Spanish, the Mexicans, and
the U.S. Before them were the various Indian cultures dating from prehistoric
times. Those great Indian cultures and artifacts were lost through history, but
some have survived and should all be honored and kept among the original
peoples' descendants. These masks should be returned to the Hopi people. I am
not a tree hugger nor a naive idealist. I am a retired Army Colonel who served
his country in Vietnam as a combat infantry unit commander. I love my country
and iits history which includes that of the Native American Indian.
Fri, 03/08/2013 - 09:31
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Anonymous
I am Hopi and I
can speak on behalf of my fellow Hopi Sinom, that this is terrible! We do not
sell these as these are very sacred to us. This outrages me as an individual.
So very sad.
Fri, 03/08/2013 - 14:13
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Zuni Pueblo
This is very sad
that we do not know that collecters all over the world can collect this like
this and auction them off. This is wrong!!!
Fri, 03/08/2013 - 14:56
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Zuni Pueblo
This is very sad
that we do not know that collecters all over the world can collect this like
this and auction them off. This is wrong!!!
Fri, 03/08/2013 - 14:56
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maktima
this is very
heart breaking but just know that the persons who will possess these sacred
beings will be dealt with by the katsina spirit itself. they don't know how
powerful these katsinas are but they will know later on in life.
Fri, 03/08/2013 - 15:24
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Anonymous
Hopi would never
give their tradition away let alone sell them. The katsinams need to be return
to the Hopi land as well as the Hopi people.
Fri, 03/08/2013 - 16:02
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Thieves
They need to
return those masks ASAP....
Fri, 03/08/2013 - 16:35
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Anonymous
This is a
complete outrage! Something must be done to keep our most sacred possessions
just that-sacred! This is exactly why outsiders are not allowed at out
cermonies, if these are sold this would be a blaitent disrespectful action to
my Hopi people. These must be returned immediately! These artifacts are
products of centuries old ceremonies done every year to pray for the Earth
& the well being of our people. Our name means the Peaceful People &
for this to be done to us gives me a feeling of great disgust.
Fri, 03/08/2013 - 16:37
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Never lost but ...
I am appalled!!
No respect for any kind of property or the Hopi self preservation. The person
who didn't have any idea what they were doing and obviosly still doesn't, will
only be sent to his own doom. We are all sad, and will pray for their safe
return home.
Fri, 03/08/2013 - 16:48
Unciya and Hakata, Grandmother and big sister in Lakota, invited a bunch of people for their birthdays. They are the heart and soul and workforce of the Flemish Leonard Peltier Chapter. Yet they got fed up by all the wannabes they have to deal with when they visit certain gatherings. Thus they decided on a Flemish theme. 
Breughel and the food of his time became the fare: Black pudding sausages with organic applesauce, white sausages, frikadels with cherries, good dark bread and 10 kinds of regional beers and as a desert delicious safron ricecream with brown sugar. Doesn't Hakata look like the milk girl by Vermeer? Of course among the joy and bustle of dogs running around and the talking Leonard peltier was not forgotten: They passed out postcards to send to the White House to ask the President to commute Peltier's sentence. Good work my friends!
Uncyia and Hakate are the heart and soul of this Leonard Peltier chapter. They work relentlessly convincing more and people that Leonard indeed is innocent: showing informative documentaries about the incident at Oglala, poetry by Native American activist authors read in translation and now this gathering to commemorate the long time Peltier spend in jail. 
There were banners and people of all persuasions passing by showed interest. Information sheets were handed out to the people eating on the terraces of a more than excellent fish restaurant. The bond among the participants was strengthened once again as was the commitment to work for justice for all.
Being a fan of Barbara Kingsolver’s writing I was pleasantly surprised to find her book in a small town for $2. I have read five of her books, this being the sixth one. She writes rich stories, with a tapestry of characters which ring true. In Animal Dreams Codi, the main character is at a juncture in her life, and goes back to Grace, Arizona where she grew up with her sister Hallie, who is in Nicaragua, helping the people with their crops, and a distant father. Codi is in the habit of running to another place when life doesn’t turn out the way she wanted. One could say it is all about the luxury of forgiveness and living a sweet life so one has sweet dreams... Her memories seems unreal until the day she fully participates in life with loss, love and belonging. Some quotes which touched my heart:
When the producers of the books are part of the presentation then only the preliminary activities can be documented.
To commemorate the people lost in Japan last year, to struggle through grief and coming out on the side of joy the choir of the 10.000 was brought together to perform the ninth of Beethoven. The message of Schiller text seems to resonate: relearning joy, being ein Held zum ziegen, a hero who overcomes all difficulty. This performance was aired on Arte and was moving. 
On the right is Jan Dockx President of the Circle of Friends which will be treated to museum visits and learning about contemporary graphic art.
second set of German Lieder from about the 1920/1930's... Click on the picture and admire the shoes. 
Marleen de Crée also spoke about the first project in the Masereel Fonds in Kasterlee and the often mentioned trip to South Africa. The microphone kept hiding her face so the picture didn't work. Ivo Va, Damme, who takes the pictures at these events is the man on the left.
