More Museum Repatriation: Objects Head Home to Tribes
Published Date: 4/2/2025
Notice
Summary
The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History is planning to return certain cultural items to Native American tribes and Native Hawaiian groups, following the rules of NAGPRA. This means objects connected to their heritage, like unassociated funerary items, will be sent back respectfully. The process helps honor these communities and doesn’t involve any costs for the public.
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Museum to Return Tribal Cultural Items
The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History will return certain cultural items that meet the definitions of unassociated funerary objects or objects of cultural patrimony to Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations with a documented cultural affiliation. The repatriation is being carried out under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) and will return items to the Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations named in the notice. The notice says this process does not involve any costs for the public.
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Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-05599, Notice of Intended Repatriation: Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Santa Barbara, CA
The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History is planning to return some Native American cultural items to the tribes and Native Hawaiian groups they belong to. This move follows a law that protects Native American graves and cultural heritage. The repatriation will happen soon, respecting the tribes' rights without any cost to them.
Next: 2025-05601, Notice of Inventory Completion: Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, Norman, OK
The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History finished checking its collection and found that some human remains and funeral items belong to Native American tribes. This means these items will be officially returned to the right tribes, following important laws that protect Native heritage. If you’re part of a tribe or interested, now’s the time to pay attention to these changes!