Grand Rapids Museum Returns Identified Native Human Remains
Published Date: 3/19/2025
Notice
Summary
The Grand Rapids Public Museum has finished checking its collection and found human remains linked to Native American tribes. Starting April 18, 2025, these remains can be returned to the tribes. This is part of a respectful effort to honor Native American heritage and follow the law.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Museum Identifies Eight Native Remains
The Grand Rapids Public Museum identified human remains representing a minimum of eight Native American individuals, including at least four scalp locks and four navel amulets that contain preserved umbilical cord. The notice states there are no associated funerary objects and that repatriation of these remains may occur on or after April 18, 2025. These specific object types and the minimum number (eight) are documented in the museum's inventory.
Tribes Named as Culturally Affiliated
The Grand Rapids Public Museum determined a cultural affiliation between the human remains and the following tribes: Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe; Crow Creek Sioux Tribe; Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe; Lower Brule Sioux Tribe; Lower Sioux Indian Community (Minnesota); Oglala Sioux Tribe; Omaha Tribe of Nebraska; Prairie Island Indian Community (Minnesota); Rosebud Sioux Tribe; Santee Sioux Nation (Nebraska); Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (Minnesota); Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate; Standing Rock Sioux Tribe; Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation; Upper Sioux Community (Minnesota); Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska; and the Yankton Sioux Tribe. These named tribes are identified in the notice as having a connection to the remains.
How Repatriation Requests Are Submitted
Written requests for repatriation must be sent to the authorized representative at the Grand Rapids Public Museum (Alex Forist, 272 Pearl Street NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504; telephone (616) 929-1809; email [email protected]). Requests may be submitted by any one or more of the tribes listed in this notice or by a lineal descendant or tribe/organization not listed that shows by a preponderance of the evidence a cultural affiliation; repatriation may occur on or after April 18, 2025. If competing requests are received, the museum must determine the most appropriate requestor, and joint requests are treated as a single request.
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Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-04616, Notice of Inventory Completion: Grand Rapids Public Museum, Grand Rapids, MI
The Grand Rapids Public Museum has finished checking its collection and found Native American human remains and burial items linked to the Cheyenne River Sioux and Crow Creek Sioux Tribes. These remains and objects might be returned to the tribes starting April 18, 2025. This is a respectful step to honor Native American heritage and history.
Next: 2025-04618, Notice of Inventory Completion: Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
The Hood Museum of Art at Dartmouth College has finished checking their collection and found human remains and funerary items linked to Native Alaskan tribes. These items, collected nearly 100 years ago, are set to be returned to the right communities starting April 18, 2025. This means Native groups can reclaim their ancestors respectfully, with no cost or delays expected.