Artifacts from the World Museum Collection Returned to the US for the Benefit of Indigenous Tribe

Minister Bruins of Education, Culture and Science returns seven objects from the National Collection to the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo in the US. This is done at the request of the United States and follows the advice of the Colonial Collections Committee.

The Ysleta del Sur Pueblo is a recognized indigenous nation in the US that has been colonized in the past. Important items, such as a shield and musical instruments, were wrongfully taken to the Netherlands at the end of the 19^th century.

The Colonial Collections Committee advised the return based on provenance research by the World Museum, in line with the policy on colonial collections. This research shows that the collector used violence and bribery to acquire these objects.

The advice was developed in consultation with representatives of the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and published on the Committees website. The transfer will take place soon, in cooperation with the US and the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo.