RISD Museum Prepares to Return Tribal Basket and Jar
Published Date: 1/7/2026
Notice
Summary
The RISD Museum in Providence plans to return two special Native American cultural items—a cooking basket and a necked jar—to their rightful tribes starting February 6, 2026. These items are super important to the tribes’ history and traditions. No money changes hands, but this is a big step in respecting Native American heritage.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
RISD to return two tribal items
The Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Museum intends to repatriate two Native American cultural items—a cooking basket and a necked jar—that it has determined are objects of cultural patrimony connected to the Tejon Indian Tribe. The museum may carry out the repatriation on or after February 6, 2026.
Other claimants may request repatriation
Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not named in the notice may submit a written request for repatriation by showing, by a preponderance of the evidence, that they are a lineal descendant or culturally affiliated. Such requests may be acted on on or after February 6, 2026.
Competing and joint repatriation requests rule
If competing repatriation requests are received, the RISD Museum must determine the most appropriate requestor before repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation are treated as a single request, not competing requests.
Legal findings and safety note about objects
The RISD Museum determined the two items meet the definition of objects of cultural patrimony and have a cultural affiliation with the Tejon Indian Tribe; the notice also states there is no known presence of potentially hazardous substances in either object.
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