UNM Museum Repatriates Native Remains to Tribes
Published Date: 1/13/2026
Notice
Summary
The Maxwell Museum of Anthropology at the University of New Mexico has finished checking its collection of human remains and artifacts and found they belong to Native American tribes. Starting February 12, 2026, these remains and items can be returned to the tribes. This is a big step in respecting Native heritage and making sure these important cultural items go back home.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Repatriation allowed starting Feb 12, 2026
The Maxwell Museum at the University of New Mexico may return 399 identified Native American human remains and 539 associated funerary objects to affiliated tribes on or after February 12, 2026. The notice names the Pueblo of Acoma, Cochiti, Isleta, Laguna, San Felipe, Sandia, Santa Ana, Zia, and Santo Domingo Pueblo as culturally affiliated.
Who may request repatriation
The listed tribes in this notice may request repatriation, and any lineal descendant or other tribe or Native Hawaiian organization can request repatriation if they show by a preponderance of the evidence that they are affiliated. If competing requests arrive, the Maxwell Museum must decide the most appropriate requestor; joint requests count as a single request.
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