Paris Auction House To Move Forward With Sale Of 8 Hopi Artifacts

By Associated Press, Carrie Jung
Published: Wednesday, June 10, 2015 - 10:10am
Updated: Wednesday, June 10, 2015 - 10:23am

An auction house in Paris is scheduled to sell another set of Hopi artifacts today. It’s the second sale of its kind this month.

On Wednesday, members of the Hopi tribe traveled to Paris to protest the scheduled auction of eight items. Tribal officials said the objects, known as Kachina Friends, hold religious significance to many tribal members.

The tribe’s effort to repatriate the items has received support from Arizona’s congressional delegation and other southwestern tribes. Tribal officials said the items are living spirits that can’t be bought or sold.

Wednesday’s sale will be held at the Druout auction house. Officials there said they see no problem with the auctions insisting it’s legal under French law. Officials add that it’s business and “to each his own morality.”

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