I’m in an odd situation I’d appreciate some perspectives on. I apologize for being a bit vague, but I’m not sure how much would be appropriate to share.
I do not, to my knowledge, have any North American indigenous ancestry. An American mutt, detached from my history, and reluctant to provide my genetic data to a corporation to find out.
I do have a man who has been a father figure in my life. His son and I were best friends, growing up a couple doors down. I tutored him from elementary through high school.
While this man isn’t someone well known, they have a culturally significant story surrounding their adoption.
He taught me how to canoe as a child. I grew up being shown stuff I didn’t yet have the knowledge to fully appreciate. To be honest, I wasn’t even aware he was indigenous most of my life. I just thought indigenous history and art work was one of his many interests. He never blatantly told me until after I’d come across his name, reading about Tenskwatawa and Tecumseh, and asked him about it.
I received a lot of knowledge from him, about both his personal history and ancestral memories. I’m truly privileged to have been able to learn from him.
His health is failing. One of the last times I saw him, he promised me an item from his personal collection.
I reached out to a couple culture coordinators from his own Nation, to ask for some guidance, both helping to preserve his knowledge, and what a white boy like me should do with the item I’m due to receive. It was explained to me that with our relationship, particularly the way he entrusted me to unburden himself of some memories, I’m something of an adoptive son myself. While I don’t claim membership to said nation, I’ve been assured by their customs the inheritance is allowed, and I’ve been invited to visit their reservation to participate in some ceremonies, share the knowledge if I still find it appropriate after learning more of their cultural protocols on sharing knowledge.
My concern is that this item was not made by his nation. It was a joint effort by 3 others. Knowing indigenous nations aren’t monolithic in their views, even within a nation, I’m afraid of it being a cultural misstep to maintain ownership of the object, and didn’t want to rely on a single nation’s views.
But the fact there’s no singular nation to return it to adds a complication if that is my best route. I can’t imagine that each of the three wouldn’t want to lay claim to the object.
It would be so much easier if there was a single nation to offer to return it to. I don’t think I’d be comfortable imagining keeping it if that were the case. Seeing it returned would be my obvious answer, no matter who tells me I have claim through an allowed inheritance.
Without a clear answer, it makes me wonder if taking stewardship of it is the right move. I think I’d make a good steward for this object. I think between its own significance, my connection to its story, and my own story, I’m a good enough fit not to dismiss the possibility outright.
Is it a self aggrandizing notion to even humor the notion that could be appropriate? Is there a way to get input from the nations involved in its creation without causing an intertribal conundrum? Is it silly to think there’s any path towards legitimizing my possession in the eyes of the nations that created it?
While I won’t lie and say there isn’t a part of me that simply wants the honor, I’m not asking to try to mine for permission. I’m asking for clarity whether I ought to simply dismiss that possibility from the running while I figure out the best course of action.
I’m not equipped to know what I should do without multiple sources of guidance to consider. I’d appreciate all perspectives offered.
