Kansas Historical Society Preps Return of Tribal Ancestral Items
Published Date: 4/16/2026
Notice
Summary
The Kansas State Historical Society has finished checking and listing Native American human remains and artifacts found in Kansas. These items, linked to specific tribes, are ready to be returned starting May 18, 2026. If you represent a tribe or group, you can request these important cultural items back—no money changes hands, just respect and care.
Free Policy Watch
New rules are filed every week. Most people never see them.
Pick a topic. PRIA watches every federal rule and tells you when one hits your household.
Pick a topic to get started
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Repatriation Available May 18, 2026
You can request the return of identified Native American human remains and funerary objects starting on May 18, 2026. The Kansas State Historical Society says repatriation may occur on or after that date for the items listed in this notice.
KSHS Identifies 59 Individuals, 1,915 Objects
The Kansas State Historical Society determined the collection includes the physical remains of 59 Native American individuals and 1,915 associated funerary objects. The notice names the Kaw Nation (Oklahoma) and the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes (Wichita, Keechi, Waco, & Tawakonie), Oklahoma, as culturally affiliated.
Who May Request Repatriation
Requests for repatriation 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 who proves cultural affiliation by a preponderance of the evidence. If competing requests are received, the Kansas State Historical Society must decide the most appropriate requestor; joint requests count as a single request.
How To Submit a Repatriation Request
Written requests for repatriation must be sent to Dr. Nicole Klarmann at the Kansas State Historical Society, 6425 SW 6th Avenue, Topeka, KS 66615-1099, or by email to [email protected]. Repatriation may occur on or after May 18, 2026.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this federal register document and every other regulation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Take It Personal
Get Your Personalized Policy View
Start a Free Government Policy Watch to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.
Already have an account? Sign in