Northwestern Finally Counts Up All Their Dead Bodies
Published Date: 1/16/2025
Notice
Summary
Northwestern University has finished checking its collection of Native American human remains and a funerary object from Illinois, linking them to specific tribes. Starting February 18, 2025, these remains and objects can be returned to the affiliated tribes. This is a respectful step to honor Native American heritage and follows important laws protecting their ancestors.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Remains eligible for repatriation Feb 18, 2025
If you are an affiliated tribal representative or a lineal descendant, Northwestern University holds human remains representing 44 individuals and one associated funerary object that may be returned starting February 18, 2025. These remains come from the Fisher Mounds Site in Will County, Illinois, dating to about A.D. 800–1400 and the late 17th century.
Tribes explicitly identified as affiliated
Northwestern University identified a set of affiliated tribes that have a cultural connection to the remains; the notice names many tribes including the Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Oklahoma; Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma; multiple Potawatomi bands; Miami Tribe of Oklahoma; Minnesota Chippewa Tribe (Fond du Lac and Mille Lacs); Omaha Tribe of Nebraska; Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma; Sac & Fox groups; Shawnee Tribe; and Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. Members or representatives of these named tribes are explicitly identified as culturally affiliated and may submit repatriation requests.
Others may request if they show affiliation
Any lineal descendant or Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not named in this notice can still request repatriation if they show, by a preponderance of the evidence, that they are a lineal descendant or have cultural affiliation. Written requests must be sent to the authorized Northwestern University representative identified in the notice.
Competing claims decided by University
If competing repatriation requests are received, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign must determine the most appropriate requestor before repatriation occurs. Requests for joint repatriation are treated as a single request rather than competing requests.
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Previous: 2025-01008 — Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Florida, Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, FL
The University of Florida’s Florida Museum of Natural History has finished checking its collection of Native American human remains and related items. They found a connection between these remains and certain Native tribes, and plan to return them starting February 18, 2025. This means important cultural treasures will be respectfully sent back to their rightful communities soon.
Next: 2025-01010 — Notice of Inventory Completion: No Man's Land Museum, Goodwell, OK
The No Man's Land Museum in Oklahoma finished checking its collection of human remains and related items and found no living relatives or tribes connected to them. Starting February 18, 2025, these remains and objects can be returned to anyone who requests them. This update affects Native American groups and the museum, with no costs or deadlines beyond the repatriation date.