Descendants of Explorer Return Replica of Stolen Canoe to Indian Nation

LONG BEACH, Washington –  It was a long time coming, but the descendants of explorer William Clark have tried to make amends for a 205-year-old theft.

A descendant of the explorer in the Corps of Discovery expedition that opened a land route to the American West presented the Chinook Indian Nation with a replica of a canoe that the corps stole in 1806.

Some of Clark's descendants and a few donors stepped forward to pay for the canoe, which was custom built in Veneta, Oregon. The five-hour ceremony on Saturday included songs, gift exchanges and the maiden voyage of the replica canoe.

Ray Gardner, chairman of the Chinook Nation's tribal council, said the return of the canoe is a "good place to being healing."...