Army Corps hands old South Dakota remains back to tribes
Published Date: 4/11/2025
Notice
Summary
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Omaha has finished checking out some old human remains found in South Dakota and confirmed they belong to Native American tribes. Starting May 12, 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 costs or risks involved.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Remains Identified as Yankton Sioux
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District determined the human remains represent at least one Native American individual and that there is a cultural affiliation with the Yankton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota. The determination is recorded in the Corps’ inventory and announced in this notice dated April 1, 2025.
Repatriation Allowed Starting May 12, 2025
Repatriation of the remains may occur on or after May 12, 2025. Written repatriation requests must be sent to Livia Taylor, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, 1616 Capitol Avenue, Omaha, NE 68102 (telephone (402) 995-2434, email [email protected]); requests may be submitted by the Yankton Sioux Tribe, any listed tribe, a lineal descendant, or another tribe/organization that shows cultural affiliation by a preponderance of the evidence.
Location, Recovery, and Handling Details
The remains were recovered from the shoreline of Prairie Dog Bay at North Point Recreation Area, Charles Mix County, South Dakota (collected in April 1983) and are currently held at the South Dakota State Historical Society Archaeological Research Center in Rapid City, SD. The notice states there are no associated funerary objects and that no information indicates the remains were treated with potentially hazardous substances.
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Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-06209, Notice of Inventory Completion: University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
The University of California, Berkeley has finished checking its collection of Native American human remains and related items, confirming they belong to certain tribes and Native Hawaiian groups. Starting May 12, 2025, these remains and objects can be returned to their rightful communities. This process respects cultural heritage and involves no costs for the public.
Next: 2025-06211, Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, Omaha, NE
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Omaha has finished checking human remains found near LeCompte Catholic Church Cemetery in South Dakota. They’ve confirmed these remains are connected to Native American tribes and plan to return them starting May 12, 2025. This means Native communities can reclaim their ancestors respectfully, with no costs or risks involved.