The Denver Museum of Nature and Science is repatriating a beaded tunic and raven headdress to the Raven House in Haines.

The return of the crest pieces to Haines is the result of years of work by the clan, Central Council Tlingit-Haida Indian Tribes and museum staff, said house master Ray Dennis, Jr. Paperwork securing the items’ return will be complete within a month.

When the items first returned to Haines in late November for a memorial potlatch, it was "like watching a relative come back when they’ve been away a long time," Dennis said.

The value of the headdress and tunic made by Mary Klanott for husband James Klanott about 100 years ago was emotional and spiritual rather than monetary, according to Dennis, and preserved the memories of people who had crafted and worn them.

The long-sleeved tunic is made of purple wool cloth and decorated with a beaded floral design. The raven headdress, a copy of an older hat made of porcupine quills, features a carved wood raven’s head atop a woven spruce root "shaman’s hat." The raven’s eyes are inlaid with abalone, and a brown ermine pelt hangs from its mouth.

According to clan records, the items were sold to an art dealer in the early 1970s.

Clan member Nathan Jackson wore the tunic and headdress during a Dec. 1 memorial potlatch for David Andrews, marking their first ceremonial use in nearly three decades.

Lee Heinmiller of Alaska Indian Arts said it’s hard to put a pricetag on such items. As clan property, the artifacts were to an extent "priceless," but also had value according to the number of clan events at which they appeared, and the amount of money pledged on them at potlatches.

In the auction market, however, Heinmiller said a beaded tunic made by Mildred Sparks recently sold for $107,000.

Until repatriation is complete, the pieces are being stored at Sheldon Museum. A decision is pending on where the pieces will be kept when released to Native owners, Dennis said.