A museum is a specialized institution developed in modern society to care for movable heritage that is of special cultural and historical importance for humankind. However, for source communities the removal of archaeological and ethnographic items from original contexts can be problematic to the integrity of cultural heritage values. This paper compares the legal, political, and ethical landscapes surrounding cultural heritage objects in California in North America and Southern Taiwan. Using the concepts of outward journey, breakthrough, and homeward journey, two case studies elucidate opportunities for Indigenous heritage protection, re-contextualization, and repatriation. We selected these cases for innovative solutions to problems that initially appeared to be destined for long-term conflicts. The strategies presented here can contribute to future efforts for self-determination of Indigenous peoples with regard to their movable cultural heritage, transforming heritage making into an empowering process for source communities that can revive and transmit culture and build enduring relationships between heritage stewards in museums and heritage keepers in Indigenous communities.