Former chairman of Hopi Tribe denies theft of item from museum

Thursday, March 27, 2014  

The former chairman of the Hopi Tribe of Arizona denies stealing a bronze bust of his grandfather from a museum on the reservation.

Ben Nuvamsa said he had permission to remove the bust of famed Olympic runner Louis Tewanima from the museum. He was going to display it at an upcoming annual footrace held in his grandfather's honor.

“If anything, it belongs to the people,” Nuvamsa told the Associated Press. “Every year we celebrate his accomplishments, and people need to see it.”

Nuvamsa has been charged in tribal court.

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Ex-Hopi chairman charged with Olympian bust theft (AP 3/26)