Oklahoma Bureau Ready to Repatriate Texas Ancestors
Published Date: 3/19/2025
Notice
Summary
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.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Two Native American Remains Eligible
Human remains representing at least two individuals from archaeological site 41TG91 in Tom Green County, Texas, have been identified as Native American and are culturally affiliated with the Mescalero Apache Tribe and the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes. These remains may be repatriated to the affiliated tribes on or after April 17, 2025.
Who May Request Repatriation
The Mescalero Apache Tribe and the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes may submit written requests for repatriation. Any other lineal descendant or Indian Tribe may also request repatriation if they show by a preponderance of the evidence that they are a lineal descendant or have cultural affiliation; if competing requests are received, the Bureau of Reclamation Oklahoma-Texas Area Office will determine the most appropriate requestor, and joint requests are treated as a single request.
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Key Dates
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Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-04628, 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 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.
Next: 2025-04630, Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, California-Great Basin Region, Sacramento, CA
The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation has finished checking human remains and artifacts found at a site in California. These remains are linked to Native American tribes, and they’re ready to be returned starting April 17, 2025. This means the tribes can reclaim their ancestors’ items, with no costs or delays expected.