{"id":30423,"date":"2023-01-10T11:33:22","date_gmt":"2023-01-10T16:33:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/News\/?p=30423"},"modified":"2023-01-10T11:36:56","modified_gmt":"2023-01-10T16:36:56","slug":"auction-under-fire-for-sale-of-items-from-battle-of-little-bighorn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2023\/01\/10\/auction-under-fire-for-sale-of-items-from-battle-of-little-bighorn\/","title":{"rendered":"Auction under fire for sale of items from Battle of Little Bighorn"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=row>\r\n<div class=col-7><a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2023\/01\/10\/auction-under-fire-for-sale-of-items-from-battle-of-little-bighorn\/sittingbull-2\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-30430\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1857\" height=\"2560\" data-attachment-id=\"30430\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2023\/01\/10\/auction-under-fire-for-sale-of-items-from-battle-of-little-bighorn\/sittingbull-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/10\/SittingBull-scaled.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1857,2560\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-title=\"Sitting Bull\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;Sitting Bull&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Sitting Bull is seen in Bismarck, Dakota Territory, around 1883. Photo by &lt;a href=https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Sitting_Bull_by_D_F_Barry_ca_1883_Dakota_Territory.jpg&gt;David F. Barry&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/10\/SittingBull-743x1024.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/10\/SittingBull-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Sitting Bull\" class=\"size-full wp-image-30430\" \/><\/a><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"col-5 align-self-end\"><figcaption class=\"figure-caption\"> Sitting Bull is seen in Bismarck, Dakota Territory, around 1883. Photo by <a href=https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Sitting_Bull_by_D_F_Barry_ca_1883_Dakota_Territory.jpg>David F. Barry<\/a><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"h1-responsive\">&#8216;I have the gun that killed Custer&#8217;<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"h5-responsive sub\">Auction under fire for sale of items from Battle of Little Bighorn<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"date\">Tuesday, January 10, 2023<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"byline\">By <A href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Kevin_Abourezk\">Kevin Abourezk<\/A> <A href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Kevin_Abourezk\"><I aria-hidden=true class=\"fab fa-twitter\"><\/I><\/A><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"source\">Indianz.Com<\/div>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nThe chief wanted peace.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nSitting Bull called on his nephew, One Bull, to take another Lakota warrior, Good Bear Boy, and try to parley with the soldiers gathered near the Little Bighorn River.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nJust then, a shot fired from the soldiers struck a nearby warrior in the head, killing him.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n\u201cGo kill them all,\u201d the chief told the two warriors.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nOne Bull and Good Bear Boy rode out of the village with three other warriors and caught up to some of the retreating soldiers. A soldier shot and killed one of the warriors, and Good Bear Boy was shot through his legs and fell off his horse.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nOne Bull caught up to the injured man, got off his horse and put Good Bear Boy on the horse, then rode away as bullets flew around them. He returned Good Bear Boy to the village before riding back to the battle. There, he met Sitting Bull, who saw the blood on the warrior and told him to return to the village.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n\u201cNo, this blood is from my friend Good Bear Boy,\u201d One Bull told the chief.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n <a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2023\/01\/10\/auction-under-fire-for-sale-of-items-from-battle-of-little-bighorn\/sittingbullmemorial\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-30434\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2036\" height=\"1130\" data-attachment-id=\"30434\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2023\/01\/10\/auction-under-fire-for-sale-of-items-from-battle-of-little-bighorn\/sittingbullmemorial\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/10\/SittingBullMemorial.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2036,1130\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-title=\"Sitting Bull Memorial\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;Sitting Bull Memorial&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;A memorial to Sitting Bull sits along the Missouri River on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. Photo: &lt;a href=https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/25080113@N06\/31029693411\/&gt; Daniel Lillis&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/10\/SittingBullMemorial-1024x568.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/10\/SittingBullMemorial.jpg\" alt=\"Sitting Bull Memorial\"  class=\"size-full wp-image-30434\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"figure-caption\"> A memorial to Sitting Bull sits along the Missouri River on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. Photo: <a href=https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/25080113@N06\/31029693411\/> Daniel Lillis<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nThis story of friendship during the June 1876 Battle of the Little Bighorn is one of hundreds told by a South Dakota gun collector who plans to sell his collection of rifles, revolvers and Native cultural items during an <a href=https:\/\/www.prnewswire.com\/news-releases\/battle-of-little-bighorn-artifacts-go-to-auction-301698580.html>auction being held January 19-21 in Las Vegas, Nevada<\/a>.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nThe <a href=https:\/\/littlebighornauction.com\/>Guns of History Auction<\/a> features more than 330 items, much of which were gathered by Native warriors after famous battles such as the Battle of the Little Bighorn and the associated Battle of the Rosebud in Montana.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nWendell Grangaard spent years collecting the weapons and cultural items, as well as the stories associated with those items. Now he plans to sell his collection.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n\u201cFor 60 years I\u2019ve gathered oral and written histories for the many hundreds of items that I have collected,\u201d he said in a news release. \u201cThe pieces and their histories are authenticated! General Custer carried a pair of nickel plated .455 caliber Webley Bulldog revolvers into the battle. I have these. I have the gun that killed Custer. I have the guns owned and used by Crazy Horse. Everything sells at the auction! There&#8217;s no other collection like mine on the planet.\u201d\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nSome of the more notable items in Grangaard\u2019s collection include Gen. George Armstrong Custer\u2019s revolver, as well as two of his rifles, and weapons once owned by Native chiefs, including Red Cloud, Sitting Bull, Gall and Crazy Horse.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nEach item up for sale includes historical documents and stories detailing its origins gathered by Grangaard, who is the author of \u201cDocumenting the Weapons Used at the Little Bighorn.\u201d\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<div class=\" content_cards_card content_cards_domain_www-facebook-com\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"content_cards_image\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_image_link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/manape.lamere\/posts\/pfbid02XqWG8JYuEW3v1GWwk3oxx16GTkkXyXWjrgcH1PzjQujB8NMK7dyQPHEQaFfNhgL7l\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/06\/urlhttps-littlebighornauction.com-images-image_5.png\" alt=\"Manape LaMere\">\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_title\">\n\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_title_link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/manape.lamere\/posts\/pfbid02XqWG8JYuEW3v1GWwk3oxx16GTkkXyXWjrgcH1PzjQujB8NMK7dyQPHEQaFfNhgL7l\">\n\t\t\tManape LaMere\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_description\">\n\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_description_link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/manape.lamere\/posts\/pfbid02XqWG8JYuEW3v1GWwk3oxx16GTkkXyXWjrgcH1PzjQujB8NMK7dyQPHEQaFfNhgL7l\">\n\t\t\t<p>Some of the items for sale at the Little Bighorn auction site are too holy to post on here. -Sitting Bulls Strong Heart society rattle -an eagle bone whistle made by Crazy Horse and gifted to&#8230;<\/p>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_site_name\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.xx.fbcdn.net\/rsrc.php\/y1\/r\/ay1hV6OlegS.ico\" alt=\"www.facebook.com\" class=\"content_cards_favicon\"\/>\t\twww.facebook.com\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nThe auction, however, has generated controversy among some.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n\u201cEach of one of those is of incredible importance. Each one,\u201d said Manape LaMere a Dakota activist from Sioux City, Iowa. \u201cSome of those things are spiritual items that should be returned, but some of those artifacts should not be touched by Indian Country at all, especially the bugle.\u201d\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nThe auction features two bugles gathered at the Battle of the Little Bighorn by Native warriors.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nIn a description of one of the bugles, Grangaard relates his own belief that Sitting Bull told his warriors that they should not take anything from the battlefield because of a vision he had had that told him that \u201cno spoils of the battle were to be taken.\u201d\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nIn a <a href=https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/manape.lamere\/posts\/pfbid02XqWG8JYuEW3v1GWwk3oxx16GTkkXyXWjrgcH1PzjQujB8NMK7dyQPHEQaFfNhgL7l>post LaMere made on Facebook<\/a> last week, several people questioned why tribes couldn\u2019t stop Grangaard from selling items that might be considered sacred to Native people, including medicine pipes.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nLaMere said because those items appear to have been sold by Native people themselves they are likely not attainable through such laws as the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, which allows for the return of certain human remains, funerary objects, sacred items and objects of cultural patrimony to tribes.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nBecause the items being sold at the auction were sold privately to collectors, their owner probably isn\u2019t required to return them to tribes, LaMere said.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n\u201cThere\u2019s a reason it\u2019s not NAGPRA and it revolves around the selling of property and what white people would call \u2018fair and square,\u2019\u201d he said. \u201cQuite often, some of these items are actually sold by those family members.\u201d\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nAlso, the history of each object was willingly shared with Grangaard, LaMere said.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n\u201cMost of these items would not have a history tied in unless one of our relatives spoke for that,\u201d he said.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nHe said even a recent federal law passed by Congress, the Safeguard Tribal Object Act, likely wouldn\u2019t affect sales of the weapons and cultural items. That act focuses on stopping the export of objects of cultural value to tribes.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nBut LaMere said tribal historic preservation officers might consider attempting to file injunctions to stop the sale of certain objects that have cultural or historical importance to a specific tribe itself.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/ClEmihYv1o0\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"><div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/ClEmihYv1o0\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\"> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div><div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\"> <div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\"><div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> <div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div><\/div><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/a><p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/ClEmihYv1o0\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by Guns of History Auction (@gunsofhistoryauction)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nStill, others question the very authenticity of the items being sold at the Guns of History Auction.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nMark Miller, who has spent more than 30 years collecting and researching antique axes and tomahawks, said he questions the means Grangaard has used to authenticate his collection.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nIn the descriptions for the auction items, Grangaard relies on a pictographic language, which he says was once used by tribal people of the Great Plains, to authenticate the weapons in his collection. He <a href=https:\/\/www.cowboysindians.com\/2016\/05\/guns-of-history\/>calls the language \u201ctogia\u201d<\/a> and says he was taught this language by Benjamin Black Elk, the son of Nicholas Black Elk, an Oglala Lakota holy man and subject of the novel \u201cBlack Elk Speaks.\u201d\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nBenjamin Black Elk died in 1972, but it wasn\u2019t until 2013 that Grangaard began using the ancient language of symbols to authenticate his collection, Miller said.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nMiller said he\u2019s never heard of \u201ctogia\u201d and said it is convenient that Grangaard is the only person alive who seems to have heard of it or understands it.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nIn the descriptions for most of the items for sale in the Guns of History Auction, Grangaard includes photos of the weapons and shows the places on the weapons that he claims the togia symbols were etched.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n\u201cThey just look like scratch marks and normal wear-and-tear to me,\u201d Miller said.\r\n<P><\/P><div class=\"mt-1 mb-1\"><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block; text-align:center;\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-8411603009680747\" data-ad-slot=\"6394965691\"><\/ins><script>(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/script><\/div><P><\/P>\r\nIn 2014, an auction house sold an axe that Grangaard had supposedly determined had been used by famed Lakota warrior He Dog, who was a friend to Crazy Horse, for $2,300. Miller said the axe was clearly African Songe axe, not the kind of axe a Lakota warrior would have used.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nAnd Miller said at least one of the items listed for sale in the Guns of History Auction, a supposed Hudson Bay dagger, isn\u2019t genuine.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n\u201cHudson Bay daggers never looked like that,\u201d he said. \u201cHe\u2019s authenticating some items that are not even antique as from Little Bighorn or reproductions that were artificially aged.\u201d\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nGrangaard couldn\u2019t be reached for comment.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nBrian Lovig of Lovig Auction Group, the auction house that plans to sell Grangaard\u2019s collection, said his firm conducted background research of Grangaard and interviewed previous buyers of his collection and also took several guns to appraisal firms and gun stores to be evaluated.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n\u201cThere is no evidence that any of the guns or artifacts are not authentic,\u201d he said. \u201cAppraisal people all agreed that all the items are legitimate.\u201d\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<div class=\" content_cards_card content_cards_domain_www-facebook-com\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"content_cards_image\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_image_link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/littlebighornauction\/posts\/pfbid036NKyQZU2qUmuv8BbnNoidCC64hfQkYS6kPTYAoZ2bbpSTjfWUeRQL3FYMZyuP4Vil\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/06\/urlhttps-www.cowboysindians.com-wp-content-uploads-2022-12-cowboysindiansadd-1024x772-1.jpg\" alt=\"Little Bighorn Auction\">\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_title\">\n\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_title_link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/littlebighornauction\/posts\/pfbid036NKyQZU2qUmuv8BbnNoidCC64hfQkYS6kPTYAoZ2bbpSTjfWUeRQL3FYMZyuP4Vil\">\n\t\t\tLittle Bighorn Auction\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_description\">\n\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_description_link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/littlebighornauction\/posts\/pfbid036NKyQZU2qUmuv8BbnNoidCC64hfQkYS6kPTYAoZ2bbpSTjfWUeRQL3FYMZyuP4Vil\">\n\t\t\t<p><div class=\" content_cards_card content_cards_domain_www-cowboysindians-com\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"content_cards_image\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_image_link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cowboysindians.com\/2023\/01\/little-bighorn-firearms-and-artifacts-go-to-auction\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/06\/cowboysindiansadd-1024x772-1.png\" alt=\"Little Bighorn Firearms And Artifacts Go To Auction\">\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_title\">\n\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_title_link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cowboysindians.com\/2023\/01\/little-bighorn-firearms-and-artifacts-go-to-auction\/\">\n\t\t\tLittle Bighorn Firearms And Artifacts Go To Auction\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_description\">\n\t\t<a class=\"content_cards_description_link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cowboysindians.com\/2023\/01\/little-bighorn-firearms-and-artifacts-go-to-auction\/\">\n\t\t\t<p>\u00a0An extensive collection of firearms and artifacts from the Indian Wars goes to auction January 19, 20, and 21, 2023. \u2026<\/p>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_site_name\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cowboysindians.com\/wp-content\/themes\/cowboysindians2018\/\/favicon.ico\" alt=\"Cowboys and Indians Magazine\" class=\"content_cards_favicon\"\/>\t\tCowboys and Indians Magazine\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/p>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"content_cards_site_name\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.xx.fbcdn.net\/rsrc.php\/y1\/r\/ay1hV6OlegS.ico\" alt=\"www.facebook.com\" class=\"content_cards_favicon\"\/>\t\twww.facebook.com\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nHe said Grangaard has spent the past 60 years collecting firearms and artifacts on the open market and from Native people in an effort to preserve Native history.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n\u201cHe has authenticated firearms and artifacts in a variety of ways including interviews with tribe members and families of selected individuals,\u201d Lovig said. \u201cWendell has been able to translate the language of Togia which allowed him to learn and document stories inscribed on guns and other items. His research is available on the auction website for nearly every item being offered for sale.\u201d\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n\u201cThe items in the auction are a testament to the bravery and influence of the Tribes and our intent is to present the items to potential buyers accordingly.\u201d\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nMiller questioned why the Lovig Auction Group didn\u2019t explain to buyers how it sought to authenticate Grangaard\u2019s collection in its promotional materials for the auction. He said most of the major auctioneers that specialize in selling antique guns or items with historical significance to tribes have shied away from Grangaard in recent years.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n\u201cI imagine that is due to some of the controversies I mentioned that have become more obvious,\u201d he said. \u201cI am surprised to hear there is a whole auction still selling them.\u201d\r\n<P><\/P>\r\nHe said avid collectors of weapons and items associated with tribal peoples want desperately to believe the items they are considering purchasing are genuine.\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n\u201cWhen you\u2019re a collector, you can talk yourself into things.\u201d\r\n <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/10\/SittingBull-scaled.jpeg\" alt=\"Sitting Bull\" width=\"0\" height=\"0\" class=\"invisible\" \/> ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A non-Native collector who claims to know a secret tribal language is selling items that supposedly came from Little Bighorn and other battles. Some have doubts.","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":30429,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_vp_format_video_url":"","_vp_image_focal_point":[],"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[10,18,13,1],"tags":[3739,3743,3742,1389,175,888,3741,794,521,3744,980,1565,569,3740],"class_list":["post-30423","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","category-education","category-law","category-national","tag-auctions","tag-benjamin-black-elk","tag-black-elk","tag-guns","tag-languages","tag-manape-lamere","tag-mark-miller","tag-nagpra","tag-nevada","tag-nicholas-black-elk","tag-sitting-bull","tag-stop-act","tag-wars","tag-wendell-grangaard","no-wpautop"],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pcoJ7g-7UH","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/10\/SittingBull-scaled.jpeg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30423","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30423"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30423\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30429"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30423"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30423"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30423"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}