Ball State University Plans Native Artifact Repatriation
Published Date: 12/16/2025
Notice
Summary
Ball State University plans to return four important cultural items—like a carved wooden staff and a woven basket—to Native American tribes connected to the Northwest Coast starting January 15, 2026. These items were donated or bought years ago and hold special cultural and sacred meaning. This repatriation respects tribal heritage and follows legal rules, with no costs or hazards expected for the university or tribes.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Four cultural items to be returned
Ball State University intends to return four cultural items—one carved wooden staff (a sacred object) and three cultural patrimony items (one woven basket and two carved spindle whorls). The items are affiliated with the Northwest Coast (the basket is identified as Coast Salish) and Ball State found a connection to the Puyallup Tribe; repatriation may occur on or after January 15, 2026. The items were acquired in 1983 (spindle whorls), 2013 (basket), and 2018 (staff).
Who can request repatriation
Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in the notice may submit a written request for repatriation if they show by a preponderance of the evidence that they are a lineal descendant or culturally affiliated. If competing requests are received, Ball State University will determine the most appropriate requestor, and joint requests are treated as a single request. Repatriation may occur on or after January 15, 2026.
Notes on possible hazardous residues
Ball State University states there are no institutional records showing hazardous substances were used to treat the four listed cultural items, but XRF testing of other items in the collection has detected arsenic, mercury, and/or lead. This information is noted in the notice and may be relevant to handling or examination of related collection items.
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