Illinois Museum Returns 19 Arikara Cultural Items
Published Date: 3/17/2025
Notice
Summary
The Illinois State Museum plans to return 19 special cultural items linked to the Arikara tribe, taken from sites in North Dakota long ago. This repatriation will start on or after April 16, 2025, giving Native American groups a chance to reclaim their heritage. No money changes hands, but this is a big step in respecting and honoring Native American history.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Museum to return 19 Arikara items
The Illinois State Museum intends to repatriate 19 unassociated funerary items that are reasonably believed to be from late-18th century Arikara burial contexts to affiliated Native American parties. The items include five cuprous coils, multiple leather wraps (one with human hair), a gun flint, bead fragment, tinkler cone, bison hide pieces, metal fragments, hair/fur, sediment, and a small bone fragment; the transfer may occur on or after April 16, 2025.
Who may request repatriation
Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not named in the notice may submit a written request for repatriation if they show by a preponderance of the evidence that they are a lineal descendant or culturally affiliated. Requests must be sent to the authorized representative at the Illinois State Museum and repatriation may occur on or after April 16, 2025.
How competing or joint requests are handled
If competing requests for these cultural items are received, the Illinois State Museum must determine the most appropriate requestor before repatriation; joint requests for repatriation are treated as a single request. Any repatriation resulting from those determinations may occur on or after April 16, 2025.
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