Rutgers Hands Back Tribal Remains for Cultural Honor
Published Date: 3/2/2026
Notice
Summary
Rutgers University has finished checking its collection and found human remains linked to Native American tribes. Starting April 1, 2026, these remains can be returned to the tribes that are connected to them. This is part of a respectful effort to honor Native American heritage, with no money involved but important for cultural respect and history.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Repatriation Allowed Starting April 1, 2026
Rutgers completed an inventory and the human remains described in this notice may be returned to affiliated tribes or claimants on or after April 1, 2026. The notice makes that date the earliest day repatriation can occur.
Specific Tribes Identified as Affiliates
Rutgers determined the human remains are affiliated with the Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Delaware Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Tribe of Indians; Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma; Shawnee Tribe; and the Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin. Those named tribes are identified in this notice as connected to the remains.
Who Can Request Repatriation and Where
Written requests for repatriation must be sent to Carol McCarty at Rutgers, 85 Somerset Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08904, or by the email listed in the notice. Requests may be submitted by any one or more of the tribes named in this notice or by a lineal descendant or tribe not named that shows cultural affiliation by a preponderance of the evidence.
Competing and Joint Repatriation Requests
If more than one party asks for repatriation, Rutgers must decide which requestor is most appropriate before returning the remains. Requests to repatriate jointly are treated as a single request and are not considered competing requests.
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