ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The leader of a Native American community in New Mexico is pleading with the French people to stand with his tribe in its fight to keep Paris auction houses from putting up for bid sacred objects.
Acoma Pueblo released the letter from tribal Gov. Kurt Riley on Thursday.
The letter comes as Paris' EVE auction house prepares to put up for bid hundreds of religious items and art pieces, including a ceremonial shield from the pueblo.
Riley says likened the sacred tribal items to objects found in churches, basilicas and other places of worship. He says they're so important that no one individual can own, sell or transfer them.
Riley also offered in the letter a brief history of his people, noting that the sacred items speak to civilizations that existed long before the arrival of the first Europeans in North America.