<p>A small Native American tribe expected justice from a Paris court last week. The money people won and heaped on the Hopi some patronising insults.</p><p>The Hopi tribeunlike some Africans, its members don't object to being referred to as a tribenumber about 18,000. They live in 12 settlements in the US state of Arizona.</p><p>At issue was an auction of, shall we say, 70 items they consider communal and sacred. To the outside world, these belongings are considered "tribal masks." Nonetheless, Neret-Minet Tersier &amp; Sarrou bagged $1.2 million for the unidentified collector. One item, "Mother Crow,'' sold for $209,000.</p><p>The items, described in the media "tribal masks," are surreal faces. They are made from wood, horsehair, and feathers. Additionally, they carry vivid pigments of red, blue, yellow, and orange. The Hopi call them Katisnam"friends."</p><p><a href="http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/Opinion/Sale-of-groups-property-questioned/-/440808/1748354/-/14qogl9/-/index.html">Keep reading...</a></p>