Temple University Returns Native American Remains: Bureaucracy Meets Ancestral Respect
Published Date: 11/17/2025
Notice
Summary
Temple University has finished checking and listing Native American human remains and artifacts found in Pennsylvania. They’ve confirmed these remains belong to certain Native tribes and are ready to return them starting December 17, 2025. If you want to request the return, contact Temple University soon—no money changes hands, just respect and care.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Repatriation available starting Dec 17, 2025
Temple University identified human remains from at least five Native American individuals and two projectile points from the Schacht Site (36LU1) in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania (acquired 1968). Temple University determined these remains are culturally affiliated with the following tribes: Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Cayuga Nation; Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Tribe of Indians; Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma; Oneida Indian Nation; Oneida Nation; Onondaga Nation; Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe; Seneca Nation of Indians; Seneca-Cayuga Nation; Shawnee Tribe; Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin; Tonawanda Band of Seneca; and the Tuscarora Nation. Repatriation of these remains and funerary objects may occur on or after December 17, 2025.
Who may request repatriation
Any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations named in this notice may submit a written request for repatriation. Also, any lineal descendant or any Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not named here may request repatriation if they show by a preponderance of the evidence that they are a lineal descendant or are culturally affiliated; repatriation may occur on or after December 17, 2025.
No known hazardous treatments recorded
Temple University reported it has no knowledge or record of any potentially hazardous substances having been used to treat the human remains or associated funerary objects. This information is part of the inventory and may be relevant to groups considering repatriation.
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