Reclamation Office Repatriates More Texas Native Remains
Published Date: 3/19/2025
Notice
Summary
The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation in Oklahoma City has finished checking and identifying human remains found in Texas. These remains belong to Native American tribes, and they’re ready to be returned starting April 18, 2025. This means tribes can soon reclaim their ancestors with no cost or delay expected.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Repatriation available starting April 18, 2025
Repatriation of the remains may occur on or after April 18, 2025. Written requests for repatriation may be submitted by the tribes identified in the notice, by any lineal descendant, or by an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization that shows cultural affiliation by a preponderance of the evidence; competing requests will be resolved by the Oklahoma-Texas Area Office.
Mescalero Apache identified as affiliated
The Bureau of Reclamation identified human remains of at least two Native American individuals from archaeological site 41MC296 in McMullen County, Texas, and determined there is a cultural affiliation with the Mescalero Apache Tribe of the Mescalero Reservation, New Mexico.
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Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-04627, Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Oklahoma-Texas Area Office, Oklahoma City, OK
The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Oklahoma-Texas Area Office has finished checking and identifying Native American human remains and related items found in Texas. These remains and objects are linked to specific tribes, and they’re set to be returned starting April 18, 2025. This means tribes can soon reclaim their ancestors’ belongings, honoring their heritage with no cost involved.
Next: 2025-04629, Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Oklahoma-Texas Area Office, Oklahoma City, OK
The Bureau of Reclamation in Oklahoma City has finished checking and identifying human remains found in Texas, linking them to Native American tribes. Starting April 17, 2025, these remains can be returned to the tribes connected to them. This is part of a respectful effort to honor Native American heritage, with no money involved but big cultural importance.