Fort Wayne Society Completes Inventory for Tribal Artifact Return
Published Date: 12/17/2025
Notice
Summary
The Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Society has finished checking and listing Native American human remains and artifacts found in Indiana. These items, linked to local tribes, are set to be returned starting January 16, 2026. This means Native communities can soon reclaim important pieces of their history, with no costs or delays expected.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Repatriation of two Native individuals
The Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Society has identified human remains for at least two Native American individuals and 172 associated funerary objects. These remains and objects have been affiliated with the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and the Shawnee Tribe and may be repatriated on or after January 16, 2026.
Who may request repatriation and dispute rules
The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and the Shawnee Tribe, any lineal descendant, or another tribe or Native Hawaiian organization that shows cultural affiliation by a preponderance of the evidence may request repatriation. If competing requests are received, the Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Society will decide the most appropriate requestor; joint requests count as a single request, and repatriation may occur on or after January 16, 2026.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile 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.
2026-19996, Notice of Intended Repatriation: California State University, Sacramento, Sacramento, CA
California State University, Sacramento plans to return over 8,500 cultural items to Native American tribes connected to northern Tehama County. These items include stones, bones, pigments, and historic materials, and the repatriation can start on or after October 30, 2026. This move respects Native heritage and involves no cost to the public but honors important cultural ties.
2026-20013, Agency Information Collection Activities; Archeology Permit Applications and Reports
The National Park Service wants to keep collecting info for archeology permits and reports, making sure the process stays smooth and clear. This affects archeologists and anyone applying for permits to dig or study artifacts in parks. They’re asking for comments by October 30, 2026, but no changes to fees or big costs are planned.
2026-20015, Agency Information Collection Activities; National Park Service Concessions Forms
The National Park Service is asking to keep using their current forms for park concessions, like shops and services, without changes. This affects businesses working with the parks and helps reduce paperwork hassle. You’ve got until October 30, 2026, to share your thoughts—no fees or new costs involved!
2026-19002, National Park Service Alaska Region Subsistence Resource Commission Program; Notice of Public Meetings
The National Park Service is holding meetings for Alaska's Subsistence Resource Commissions to discuss local hunting, fishing, and gathering rules. These meetings affect residents who rely on park resources and will happen mostly in October and November 2026, with one in February 2027. No big costs are expected, but these talks help keep subsistence traditions alive and fair.
2026-18306, Official Trail Marker for Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail
This notice issues the official trail marker insignia for the Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail in the National Trails System. The original graphic image for Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail was developed in 2026 with the completion of the Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail Comprehensive Plan. The National Park Service and related agencies have officially adopted and use this insignia to help mark all designated alignments of the Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-23053, Notice of Intended Repatriation: Fowler Museum at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
The Fowler Museum at UCLA plans to return 20 sacred Hawaiian and Polynesian cultural items, like daggers and poi pounders, to Native Hawaiian groups starting January 16, 2026. These items were gifted to the museum in the 1960s and are now being respectfully sent back to their rightful communities. This repatriation honors Native traditions and strengthens cultural connections without any cost to the public.
Next: 2025-23055, Notice of Inventory Completion: Lincoln University-Missouri, Jefferson City, MO
Lincoln University in Missouri finished checking their collection of Native American human remains and related items. They found a connection between these remains and certain Native tribes, so they’re ready to return them starting January 16, 2026. If you want to request the return, you can contact the university soon—no money changes hands, just respect and care for history.