Eight southwestern tribes are welcoming back ceremonial and religious objects that were taken illegally from them for sale on the black market.
An undercover investigation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National Park Service resulted in the September 10, 2002 convictions of Joshua Baer and Thomas Cavaliere for illegal trafficking in Native American cultural items. The items purchased or seized during the investigation were returned today to the Hopi Tribe, Navajo Nation, Pueblo of Acoma, Pueblo of Jemez, Pueblo of Laguna, Pueblo of Santo Domingo, Pueblo of Zia and the Zuni Tribe.
Federal agents purchased or seized hundreds of cultural items as part of the investigation. More than New$400,000 worth of artifacts was returned to the tribes during a special meeting in Albuquerque
New
