Mercyhurst ready to repatriate Native remains and cultural objects
Published Date: 1/15/2026
Notice
Summary
Mercyhurst University has finished checking its collection and found human remains and objects linked to Native American tribes. Starting February 17, 2026, these remains and items can be returned to the tribes. This is a respectful step to honor Native American heritage, with no costs or deadlines beyond the repatriation date.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Remains eligible for return Feb 17, 2026
If you are a member of the Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma, Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, or the Shawnee Tribe, human remains representing at least three individuals and one associated funerary object (a lot of unmodified faunal remains) may be repatriated to those tribes on or after February 17, 2026. Mercyhurst University has determined a cultural affiliation between these remains and those listed tribes.
Who may request repatriation and process rules
Written repatriation requests must be sent to Mercyhurst University's authorized representative (Anne Marjenin at Mercyhurst University, 501 East 38th Street, Erie, PA 16546, or the listed email). Requests may be submitted by any one or more of the tribes named in this notice, by a lineal descendant, or by another tribe or Native Hawaiian organization that shows cultural affiliation; competing requests must be resolved by Mercyhurst University and joint requests count as a single request.
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Mercyhurst University has finished checking its collection of Native American human remains and found they belong to certain tribes. Starting February 17, 2026, these remains can be returned to the tribes or organizations connected to them. This is a respectful step to honor Native American heritage, with no costs or deadlines beyond the repatriation date.