Mississippi Forests Up for Grabs: USDA Plans Land Giveaway
Published Date: 12/16/2025
Notice
Summary
The U.S. Forest Service in Mississippi plans to return the remains of at least three Native American individuals and their burial items to their rightful tribes or descendants starting January 15, 2026. If no one claims them by December 16, 2026, these remains and objects will be considered unclaimed. This affects tribes connected to the Little Spanish Fort site and involves important cultural artifacts found during a 1993 excavation.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Repatriation priority for Choctaw tribes
The Forest Service intends to return the human remains of at least three Native American individuals and 10 boxes of associated funerary objects from the Little Spanish Fort site (22Sh522) in Sharkey County, Mississippi. The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma have priority for disposition; disposition may occur on or after January 15, 2026.
Who can claim and claim deadline
Written claims to receive the remains and objects must be sent to the Heritage Program Manager in Jackson, MS and may be submitted by any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization identified in the notice. Claims must be received by December 16, 2026; others not identified may claim if they show by a preponderance of the evidence that they have priority, and joint disposition requests are treated as a single request.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this federal register document and every other regulation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-04606 — Alaska; Hunting and Trapping in National Preserves
The National Park Service wants to update hunting and trapping rules in Alaska’s national preserves to bring back long-standing practices that support state-authorized wildlife harvests and public access. These changes affect hunters, trappers, and anyone using Alaska park lands, aiming to balance conservation with local traditions. You’ve got until April 9, 2026, to share your thoughts—no new fees or costs are expected.
2026-11850 — Agency Information Collection Activities; National Park Service Concessions Forms
The National Park Service is updating its forms for businesses that run services inside parks, like gift shops and food stands. These changes make it easier for companies to apply and keep things running smoothly, with no extra costs or delays expected. If you work with park concessions, keep an eye out for new form rules coming soon!
2026-11701 — Notice of Intended Repatriation: American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY
The American Museum of Natural History plans to return five Native Hawaiian cultural items, like stone tools, that were taken from burial sites on Oʻahu back in 1938. This repatriation will start on or after July 13, 2026, giving Native Hawaiian groups a chance to reclaim their heritage. No money changes hands, but it’s a big step in respecting and restoring Native Hawaiian history.
2026-11700 — Notice of Inventory Completion: American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY
The American Museum of Natural History has finished checking its collection and found human remains and a bone tool linked to Native American tribes. Starting July 13, 2026, these items can be returned to the tribes that they belong to. If you want to request the return, you can contact the museum directly—just a heads-up, some items might need careful handling due to past pesticide use.
2026-11238 — Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
The University of Michigan has finished checking its collection and found Native American ancestral remains from a historic site in Michigan. These remains can be returned to the affiliated tribes starting July 6, 2026. This means the university is ready to give back these important cultural items, following the law, with no costs or risks involved.
2026-11231 — Notice of Intended Repatriation: University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
The University of California, Berkeley plans to return 24 important Native American cultural items, like beans and corn seeds, to the tribes they belong to starting July 6, 2026. These items were collected in the 1940s and hold special cultural meaning. This repatriation respects Native traditions and helps heal history without any cost to the public.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-22880 — Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Florida, Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, FL
The University of Florida’s Florida Museum of Natural History has finished checking its collection of ancient human remains and artifacts from the Pillsbury Mound site. They found 203 individuals and nearly 5,000 related objects, now linked to Native American tribes. Starting January 15, 2026, these remains and items can be returned to the tribes, marking an important step in honoring Native heritage.
Next: 2025-22882 — Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of Defense, Air Force, Eglin Air Force Base, Eglin, FL
Eglin Air Force Base has finished checking and identifying Native American human remains and special burial items found at an ancient site in Florida. These remains and objects are linked to Native tribes, and they’ll be returned to the right groups starting January 15, 2026. This means respectful repatriation is on the way, with no costs to the public and clear steps for tribes to claim their ancestors.