2026-03562Notice

Cumberland Island NPS Seeks Claims for Native Remains and Burial Items

Published Date: 2/23/2026

Notice

Summary

The National Park Service at Cumberland Island National Seashore plans to return Native American human remains and related burial items found in Georgia to the right tribes. Tribes have until February 23, 2027, to claim these items, or they’ll be considered unclaimed. This respectful process starts on March 25, 2026, and helps honor Native American heritage while following important laws.

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Planned return of Native remains

If you are a member or lineal descendant of one of the listed tribes, the National Park Service intends to return human remains (at least one individual) and one lot of associated funerary objects found in Camden County, Georgia (discovered October 28, 2024) to tribes with priority for disposition named in this notice.

Deadline to submit claims

If you are a lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization that wants these remains or objects, you must submit a written claim by February 23, 2027; disposition may occur on or after March 25, 2026 and items without a claim by February 23, 2027 will be treated as unclaimed.

Who may file a claim

You may file a claim for disposition if you are a lineal descendant, an Indian Tribe, or a Native Hawaiian organization named in this notice; others not named may also claim if they show by a preponderance of the evidence that they have priority for disposition.

Competing claims and joint requests

If there are competing claims, the Cumberland Island National Seashore must determine the most appropriate claimant before disposition; requests for joint disposition are treated as a single request and not as competing claims.

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Key Dates

Published Date
Effective Date
2/23/2026
3/25/2026

Department and Agencies

Department
Independent Agency
Agency
Interior Department
National Park Service
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