Selling a sacred icon

Tribe:  Sale of space rock 'insensitive'"We are deeply saddened that any individual or organization would be so insensitive to Native American spirituality and culture as to traffic in the sale of a sacred and historic artifact," said Siobahn Taylor of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, which includes the Clackamas.

But the owner of the fragment, noting the vast majority of the 15.5-ton meteorite remains untouched, said his sympathy for the group's complaints would not halt next month's sale. The 30-pound piece, sliced from the renowned rock's crown nearly a decade ago, is expected to bring in more than $1 million.