Tonto Forest Plans to Return Sacred Remains to Tribes Respectfully
Published Date: 3/17/2025
Notice
Summary
The Tonto National Forest is planning to return Native American human remains and related items to their rightful families or tribes, following important laws that protect these sacred objects. This affects Native communities connected to these items and will happen soon to honor their heritage respectfully. No money changes hands, but the timing is key to making sure everything is done properly and respectfully.
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Return of Native American Remains
The Tonto National Forest intends to return Native American human remains, associated funerary objects, and unassociated funerary objects removed from Federal or Tribal lands under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). The items will be given to lineal descendants, the Indian Tribe, or a Native Hawaiian organization with priority for disposition. No money changes hands in this disposition.
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Key Dates
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Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-04175, Notice of Intended Disposition: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Tonto National Forest, Phoenix, AZ
The Tonto National Forest is planning to return important Native American items and human remains to the right tribes or descendants, following special laws that protect these cultural treasures. This affects Native communities connected to these objects and will happen soon to honor their heritage respectfully. No money changes hands, but the timing is key to making sure everything goes to the right people.
Next: 2025-04177, Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
The University of Alabama at Birmingham finished checking its collection of Native American human remains and related items. They found a clear connection between these remains and certain Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian groups. This means the university is ready to return these items to the right communities, following important laws that protect Native heritage.