I’m curious as to what she means when she says that it is “a chief’s belt.” Does she have some knowledge of the social or political status of a previous owner or wearer of the belt, or their position within a particular tribe? Is that just a phrase she uses to refer to something that is really big?
It’s a large belt with a lot of silver and turquoise by a talented, collectable, deceased maker who isn’t making any more. It’s a lovely belt and certainly very valuable. But calling it a “chief’s belt” seems imply some provenance that I’m not sure she has, or increased importance beyond a belt made for commercial trade, which this is. If she’s “always going to think it’s worth a million bucks,” maybe your best bet is to start looking for one online.