Montana Forest Service Offers Native Remains for Tribal Claim
Published Date: 3/19/2026
Notice
Summary
The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest in Montana plans to return human remains and two funerary objects found in 2014 to the Native American tribes connected to them. If no one claims them by March 19, 2027, these items will be considered unclaimed. This process starts on April 20, 2026, and is part of respecting Native American heritage and laws.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Deadline to Claim Remains and Objects
The Forest Service may return the human remains and two funerary objects on or after April 20, 2026. If no written claim is received by March 19, 2027, those items will be treated as unclaimed.
Two Tribes Have Disposition Priority
The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest says the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation and the Shoshone-Bannack Tribes of the Fort Hall Reservation have priority to receive the human remains and associated funerary objects described in this notice.
Who Can File a Claim and How
Written claims may be submitted by any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization identified in the notice, or by others who can show they have priority. Claims must be sent to Corey Lewellen, USFS Beaverhead Deerlodge NF, 420 Barrett Street, Dillon, MT 59725 or the email provided in the notice.
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