Oregon Society Returns Ancient Native Remains to Tribes
Published Date: 3/27/2025
Notice
Summary
The Oregon Historical Society has finished checking its collection and found Native American human remains linked to three Oregon tribes. These remains were dug up near Salem a long time ago and can be returned to the tribes starting April 28, 2025. If you’re part of the tribes or interested, you can ask for the remains to be sent back by contacting the Society.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
One Native American ancestor identified
The Oregon Historical Society identified human remains representing one Native American individual that were removed during an excavation immediately west of the Willamette Hotel in Salem, Oregon, and accessioned on January 20, 1899. The Society determined the remains are affiliated with the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon; Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon; and the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon.
Repatriation available to tribes and descendants
Repatriation of the human remains may occur on or after April 28, 2025. Written repatriation requests must be sent to Nicole Yasuhara at the Oregon Historical Society (1200 SW Park Avenue, Portland, OR 97205; phone (503) 306-5238; email nagpra@ohs.org). Requests may be submitted by any one or more of the three named Tribes, or by a lineal descendant or other Tribe/organization that proves cultural affiliation by a preponderance of the evidence; competing requests will be resolved by the Oregon Historical Society.
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