Nebraska Forest Service Returns Ancient Human Remains to Tribes
Published Date: 1/16/2025
Notice
Summary
The Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands plans to return the remains of one Native American individual and two funerary objects found in South Dakota to their rightful descendants or tribes. This process can start after February 18, 2025, and if no one claims them by January 16, 2026, the items will be considered unclaimed. This notice affects Native American communities connected to these remains and ensures respectful handling of their ancestors.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Disposition can occur starting Feb 18, 2025
The Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands may return the human remains and two funerary objects to lineal descendants, an Indian Tribe, or a Native Hawaiian organization on or after February 18, 2025. Eligible claimants include any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization identified in the notice or any not identified who shows priority by a preponderance of the evidence.
Items become unclaimed after Jan 16, 2026
If no written claim is received by January 16, 2026, the human remains and associated funerary objects will be declared unclaimed. After that date they will be treated as unclaimed human remains and associated funerary objects under the notice.
Named tribes have priority for disposition
The notice lists specific tribes that have priority for disposition, including the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation (Montana), Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes (Oklahoma), Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (South Dakota), Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe (South Dakota), Lower Brule Sioux Tribe (South Dakota), Northern Arapaho Tribe (Wyoming), Northern Cheyenne Tribe (Montana), Oglala Sioux Tribe, Rosebud Sioux Tribe (South Dakota), Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate (South Dakota), Spirit Lake Tribe (North Dakota), Three Affiliated Tribes (North Dakota), and the Yankton Sioux Tribe (South Dakota).
How to submit a written claim
Written claims for disposition must be sent to Jack Isaacs, Forest Supervisor, Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands at 125 North Main Street, Chadron, NE 69337; telephone (308) 430-1379; email [email protected]. Requests may be submitted by eligible lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations, and joint disposition requests are treated as a single request.
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Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-01016, Notice of Intended Disposition: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands, Chadron, NE
The Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands plans to return the remains of one Native American ancestor and a special arrowhead found in Sioux County, Nebraska, to the right Tribe or descendants. This will happen after February 18, 2025, unless no one claims them by January 16, 2026, then they’ll be considered unclaimed. This respectful action honors Native American heritage and follows important laws protecting their ancestors.
Next: 2025-01018, Notice of Intended Disposition: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Chugach National Forest, Anchorage, AK
The Chugach National Forest in Alaska plans to return Native American human remains found near Eagle Glacier to the Eklutna Native Village or the Knik Tribe. This process will start on February 18, 2025, and if no one claims the remains by January 16, 2026, they’ll be considered unclaimed. This respectful action honors Native communities and follows important federal laws.