Harvard Peabody Museum to Return 30 Sacred Native American Items
Published Date: 12/17/2025
Notice
Summary
Harvard’s Peabody Museum plans to return 30 sacred and culturally important Native American and Native Hawaiian items to their rightful tribes starting January 16, 2026. This move respects tribal heritage and follows a law that protects Native cultural treasures. If you want to learn more or request repatriation, you can contact the museum directly.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Peabody to return 30 Native cultural items
Harvard’s Peabody Museum plans to repatriate a total of 30 cultural items (four sacred objects and 26 objects of cultural patrimony) that have a connection to the Eastern Shoshone Tribe. The repatriation may occur on or after January 16, 2026.
Who can request repatriation and how
Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not named in the notice may submit a written request for repatriation to the Peabody Museum and must show by a preponderance of the evidence that they are a lineal descendant or culturally affiliated. If competing requests are received, the museum will determine the most appropriate requestor; joint requests count as a single request.
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