# 2025-19957: Phoenix Museum Prepares to Return Sacred Remains and Artifacts

2025-19957, Notice of Inventory Completion: Heard Museum, Phoenix, AZ, is a Federal Register notice from Interior Department, National Park Service published 2025-11-17, effective 2025-12-17 (as of 2026-06-08).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-19957
- As of: 2026-06-08
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2025-19957
- Title: Notice of Inventory Completion: Heard Museum, Phoenix, AZ
- Type: Notice
- Agencies: Interior Department; National Park Service
- Citation: 90 FR 51394
- Published: 2025-11-17
- Effective: 2025-12-17
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: no
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-06-08

## In one line

Phoenix Museum Prepares to Return Sacred Remains and Artifacts

## Summary

The Heard Museum in Phoenix has finished checking its collection and found human remains and 30 related items linked to Native American tribes. Starting December 17, 2025, these remains and objects can be returned to the tribes. This is a big step in respecting Native heritage and making sure these items go back to their rightful communities.

## Abstract

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Heard Museum has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

## Effects PRIA read

- Return of 31 Funerary Objects and Remains: benefit, low. The Heard Museum identified the physical remains of at least one Native American individual and 31 associated funerary objects. These remains and objects are culturally affiliated with the Salt River Pima‑Maricopa Indian Community and may be returned beginning on December 17, 2025.
- Who Can Request Repatriation: benefit, low. Written requests for repatriation may be submitted by any of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations listed in the notice, or by a lineal descendant or another tribe/organization that shows by a preponderance of the evidence cultural affiliation. Repatriation may occur on or after Decemb…
- Museum Must Resolve Competing Requests: benefit, low. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the Heard Museum must determine the most appropriate requestor before repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation are treated as a single request.

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## Sources
- [2025-19957 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/11/17/2025-19957/notice-of-inventory-completion-heard-museum-phoenix-az)
- [2025-19957 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-11-17/pdf/2025-19957.pdf)

## Related
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- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-19957 (as of 2026-06-08).