NY Museum Prepares to Return Tribal Human Remains
Published Date: 3/2/2026
Notice
Summary
The Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation & Museums at Garvies Point Museum has finished checking their collection and found Native American human remains from a site in New York. Starting April 1, 2026, these remains can be returned to the affiliated tribes. This is a respectful step to honor Native American heritage with no cost or delays expected.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Remains affiliated to Stockbridge Munsee
The human remains of at least one Native American individual from the Tufano site near Athens, Greene County, NY, are culturally affiliated with the Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin. The remains were collected on August 27, 1964, and donated to the Garvies Point Museum in 1970.
Repatriation allowed beginning April 1, 2026
The notice states that repatriation of the human remains may occur on or after April 1, 2026. Written requests for repatriation must be sent to Veronica Natale at Garvies Point Museum & Preserve at 50 Barry Drive, Glen Cove, NY 11542 or the provided email.
Who may request repatriation
Repatriation requests may be submitted by any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations identified in the notice, or by any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not identified that shows by a preponderance of the evidence that they are a lineal descendant or culturally affiliated. Requests must be written and sent to the museum contact in the notice.
Competing and joint request rules
If competing repatriation requests are received, the Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation & Museums—Garvies Point Museum & Preserve must determine the most appropriate requestor before repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation are treated as a single request and not as competing requests.
No associated funerary objects present
The inventory notes that no associated funerary objects are present with the human remains described in this notice. The remains listed include fragmentary skeletal elements such as femora, tibia, vertebrae, radii, humeri, and metacarpals.
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