Family returns historic headdress of Lakota chief Spotted Tail after decades in storage

A family has returned a historic eagle feather headdress belonging to Chief Spotted Tail, a 19th-century Lakota leader, after keeping it in a suitcase for decades. The headdress, along with other artifacts, was passed down from Major Cicero Newell, an Indian agent in the 1870s. In May 2024, the headdress was transferred to the South Dakota Historical Society. It is set to be displayed in 2025. Chief John Spotted Tail, a descendant of the chief, expressed honor in overseeing the return of these significant cultural items. The headdress symbolizes the complex history between Indigenous peoples and U.S. settlers. Chief Spotted Tail was involved in treaties aimed at protecting Native lands, despite ongoing conflicts and injustices faced by Indigenous communities.