Tennessee and Kentucky Return Native Remains to Tribal Communities
Published Date: 3/18/2026
Notice
Summary
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and Western Kentucky University have finished checking and listing Native American human remains and artifacts found in Kentucky. They’ve confirmed these items belong to specific Native tribes and are ready to return them starting April 17, 2026. This means important cultural treasures will soon go back to their rightful communities, honoring their history and heritage.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Large Number of Items Currently Unlocated
The inventory notes that only 11 of the belongings known to have been removed during the 1969/1970 excavations were located, leaving 638 belongings and one Ancestor currently unaccounted for; steps are being taken to identify their location.
Repatriation Available April 17, 2026
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and Western Kentucky University completed an inventory and found human remains representing at least three individuals and 649 associated funerary objects. Those remains and objects may be returned to affiliated tribes beginning on or after April 17, 2026.
Specific Tribes Identified as Affiliated
The notice states there is a cultural affiliation between the remains/objects and these groups: Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Cherokee Nation; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma; Quapaw Nation; Shawnee Tribe; and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma. Those named tribes are connected to the remains and objects in this notice.
Who May Request Repatriation
Repatriation requests may be submitted by any one or more of the tribes or Native organizations named in the notice, by any lineal descendant, or by another Tribe or Native organization that shows by a preponderance of the evidence that it is culturally affiliated. If competing requests are received, TDEC-DOA and WKU must determine the most appropriate requestor; joint requests are treated as a single request.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this federal register document and every other regulation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions 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.
2026-11850 — Agency Information Collection Activities; National Park Service Concessions Forms
The National Park Service is updating its forms for businesses that run services inside parks, like gift shops and food stands. These changes make it easier for companies to apply and keep things running smoothly, with no extra costs or delays expected. If you work with park concessions, keep an eye out for new form rules coming soon!
2026-11701 — Notice of Intended Repatriation: American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY
The American Museum of Natural History plans to return five Native Hawaiian cultural items, like stone tools, that were taken from burial sites on Oʻahu back in 1938. This repatriation will start on or after July 13, 2026, giving Native Hawaiian groups a chance to reclaim their heritage. No money changes hands, but it’s a big step in respecting and restoring Native Hawaiian history.
2026-11700 — Notice of Inventory Completion: American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY
The American Museum of Natural History has finished checking its collection and found human remains and a bone tool linked to Native American tribes. Starting July 13, 2026, these items can be returned to the tribes that they belong to. If you want to request the return, you can contact the museum directly—just a heads-up, some items might need careful handling due to past pesticide use.
2026-11238 — Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
The University of Michigan has finished checking its collection and found Native American ancestral remains from a historic site in Michigan. These remains can be returned to the affiliated tribes starting July 6, 2026. This means the university is ready to give back these important cultural items, following the law, with no costs or risks involved.
2026-11232 — Notice of Intended Repatriation: University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
The University of California, Berkeley plans to return four important cultural items—two baskets and two charmstones—to Native American tribes connected to them. This repatriation will start on or after July 6, 2026, honoring the tribes’ heritage and history. No money changes hands, but the university is making sure these treasures go back to their rightful communities.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-05305 — Notice of Inventory Completion: University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA
The University of California San Diego has finished checking its collection of Native American human remains and related items, linking them to specific tribes and Native Hawaiian groups. Starting April 17, 2026, these remains and objects can be returned to their rightful communities. This important step respects cultural heritage and follows federal law, with no costs mentioned for the public.
Next: 2026-05307 — Request Notice: Use of Foreign-Built Small Passenger Vessel in United States Coastwise Trade, S/V CAT 5
The U.S. Department of Transportation is asking for public comments on whether a foreign-built small passenger vessel, the S/V CAT 5, should be allowed to operate in U.S. coastal trade carrying up to 12 passengers. This decision could affect U.S. boat builders and businesses using American-made vessels. Comments are open until April 17, 2026, so now’s the time to speak up if you care about local shipbuilding and coastal business!