Dartmouth Hood Museum Repatriates Old Native Alaskan Remains
Published Date: 3/19/2025
Notice
Summary
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.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Museum Identifies Native Remains
The Hood Museum of Art has determined that it holds the physical remains of at least one Native American individual and one associated funerary object (one lot of semi-melted beads) removed in 1929–30 near the mouth of the Nabesna River in Southeast Fairbanks County, Alaska. The museum found a cultural affiliation connecting the remains and object to Northway Village.
Repatriation Available Starting April 18, 2025
Repatriation of the human remains and the associated funerary object may occur on or after April 18, 2025. The remains were collected in 1929–30 by Robert A. McKennan and are now eligible to be returned to an appropriate requestor after that date.
Who Can Request Repatriation and Process
Written repatriation requests must be sent to the Hood Museum's authorized representative. Requests may be submitted by any of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations identified in the notice, or by a lineal descendant or tribe/organization not identified if they show by a preponderance of the evidence that they have a cultural affiliation. If competing requests are received, the Hood Museum must determine the most appropriate requestor; joint repatriation requests are treated as a single request.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-04606, Alaska; Hunting and Trapping in National Preserves
The National Park Service wants to update hunting and trapping rules in Alaska’s national preserves to bring back long-standing practices that support state-authorized wildlife harvests and public access. These changes affect hunters, trappers, and anyone using Alaska park lands, aiming to balance conservation with local traditions. You’ve got until April 9, 2026, to share your thoughts—no new fees or costs are expected.
2026-20013, Agency Information Collection Activities; Archeology Permit Applications and Reports
The National Park Service wants to keep collecting info for archeology permits and reports, making sure the process stays smooth and clear. This affects archeologists and anyone applying for permits to dig or study artifacts in parks. They’re asking for comments by October 30, 2026, but no changes to fees or big costs are planned.
2026-20015, Agency Information Collection Activities; National Park Service Concessions Forms
The National Park Service is asking to keep using their current forms for park concessions, like shops and services, without changes. This affects businesses working with the parks and helps reduce paperwork hassle. You’ve got until October 30, 2026, to share your thoughts—no fees or new costs involved!
2026-19996, Notice of Intended Repatriation: California State University, Sacramento, Sacramento, CA
California State University, Sacramento plans to return over 8,500 cultural items to Native American tribes connected to northern Tehama County. These items include stones, bones, pigments, and historic materials, and the repatriation can start on or after October 30, 2026. This move respects Native heritage and involves no cost to the public but honors important cultural ties.
2026-19002, National Park Service Alaska Region Subsistence Resource Commission Program; Notice of Public Meetings
The National Park Service is holding meetings for Alaska's Subsistence Resource Commissions to discuss local hunting, fishing, and gathering rules. These meetings affect residents who rely on park resources and will happen mostly in October and November 2026, with one in February 2027. No big costs are expected, but these talks help keep subsistence traditions alive and fair.
2026-18306, Official Trail Marker for Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail
This notice issues the official trail marker insignia for the Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail in the National Trails System. The original graphic image for Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail was developed in 2026 with the completion of the Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail Comprehensive Plan. The National Park Service and related agencies have officially adopted and use this insignia to help mark all designated alignments of the Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-04617, Notice of Inventory Completion: Grand Rapids Public Museum, Grand Rapids, MI
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.
Next: 2025-04619, Notice of Inventory Completion: Yale Peabody Museum, Yale University, New Haven, CT
The Yale Peabody Museum has finished checking its collection and found six Native American human remains linked to the Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Kaw Tribes. These remains, collected long ago from Kansas, can be returned to the tribes starting April 18, 2025. This means the museum is ready to give back these important cultural items, respecting the tribes' heritage without any cost involved.