2025-23026Notice

Alabama University readies Native Human Remains for Tribes

Published Date: 12/17/2025

Notice

Summary

The University of Alabama Museums finished checking their collection and found 213 Native American human remains and lots of related artifacts. These items are linked to specific tribes and can be returned starting January 16, 2026. If you want to request the return, contact the museum soon—this is a big step in respecting Native cultures and history!

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Museum inventory identifies 213 remains

The University of Alabama Museums completed an inventory that identifies human remains representing at least 213 Native American individuals and 1,658 lots of associated funerary objects. The inventory lists site-specific removals (Nodena, Walnut Mound, Higginbotham Farm, Potter's Farm) and catalog prefixes (NOD, WAL, HI, PO) for those items.

Museum links remains to Quapaw Nation

The University of Alabama Museums determined there is a connection between the human remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice and the Quapaw Nation. That determination is part of the museum's NAGPRA findings documented in this notice.

Repatriation requests allowed starting Jan 16, 2026

Repatriation of the described human remains and funerary objects may occur on or after January 16, 2026. Written requests may be submitted by any of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations identified in the notice, or by a lineal descendant or tribe/organization not identified who shows by a preponderance of the evidence that they have cultural affiliation; competing requests must be resolved by the University of Alabama Museums and joint requests are treated as single requests.

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Key Dates

Published Date
Effective Date
12/17/2025
1/16/2026

Department and Agencies

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Independent Agency
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Interior Department
National Park Service
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