Ball State University Returns Beaded Dress to Paiute-Shoshone Heritage
Published Date: 12/17/2025
Notice
Summary
Ball State University plans to return a special beaded girl’s dress to the Paiute-Shoshone Tribe because it’s an important cultural treasure. This repatriation can happen starting January 16, 2026. If you want to ask about this item, you can contact the university before then—no money changes hands, just respect and care for history.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Beaded Girl’s Dress Repatriation Planned
Ball State University intends to return one beaded girl’s dress that it has determined to be an object of cultural patrimony affiliated with the Paiute-Shoshone Tribe of the Fallon Reservation and Colony, Nevada. Repatriation may occur on or after January 16, 2026, and written requests must be sent to Chyan Gilaspy at Ball State University, Applied Anthropology Laboratories, 2000 W Riverside Avenue, Muncie, IN 47306 or the email listed in the notice.
Item Tested Positive For Hazardous Substances
XRF testing of the beaded girl’s dress was positive for potentially hazardous substances, although there are no institutional records indicating use of hazardous treatments on the item. This information is part of the notice about the item being repatriated.
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