Indianapolis Art Museum Set to Return Native American Cultural Items
Published Date: 12/16/2025
Notice
Summary
The Indianapolis Museum of Art, also known as Newfields, plans to return 11 Native American cultural items like scepters and effigies to the tribes connected to them. These items were found in Tennessee and Kentucky and will be repatriated starting January 15, 2026. This respectful move honors Native American traditions and strengthens cultural ties without any cost impact.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Museum to Return 11 Native Items
The Indianapolis Museum of Art (Newfields) intends to repatriate 11 unassociated funerary objects (including a gorget, scepters, effigies, and hooks) that were excavated from burial sites in Humphreys County, Tennessee and Trigg County, Kentucky. The items are identified as culturally affiliated with the Cherokee Nation; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; Shawnee Tribe; The Chickasaw Nation; and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma, and repatriation may occur on or after January 15, 2026.
Who Can Request Repatriation and How
Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization may submit a written request for repatriation to Jennifer Gallatin Rigsby at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, Inc. D.B.A. Newfields (4000 Michigan Road, Indianapolis, IN 46208; email provided in the notice) if they show by a preponderance of the evidence that they are a lineal descendant or culturally affiliated. If competing requests are received, Newfields must determine the most appropriate requestor; joint repatriation requests are treated as a single request. Repatriation may occur on or after January 15, 2026.
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