Northern Cheyenne Tribe Reclaims Cultural Belongings from UM

Northern Cheyenne elders and cultural leaders traveled from the southeastern Montana reservation to UM to reclaim ownership of dozens of culturally significant items, recordings and documents in the university’s collections.

Inside the University of Montana’s Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, Donovan Taylor stretched his arms across a wooden conference table holding his phone, which was recording, up to two gray speakers. He furrowed his brow and closed his eyes as he listened to a 1968 recording of a Cheyenne love song. 

Next to him, Theresa Small, a member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribal Council, leaned closer to the speakers and cupped a hand to her right ear, trying to hear the drums and singers through the lo-fi audio.