# 2026-12378: Ball State Returns Tomahawk and Child Moccasins

2026-12378, Notice of Intended Repatriation: Ball State University, Muncie, IN, is a Federal Register notice from Interior Department, National Park Service published 2026-06-22, effective 2026-07-22 (as of 2026-06-29).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12378
- As of: 2026-06-29
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-12378
- Title: Notice of Intended Repatriation: Ball State University, Muncie, IN
- Type: Notice
- Agencies: Interior Department; National Park Service
- Citation: 91 FR 37133
- Published: 2026-06-22
- Effective: 2026-07-22
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: no
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-06-29

## In one line

Ball State Returns Tomahawk and Child Moccasins

## Summary

Ball State University plans to return five important Native American cultural items, including a tomahawk, child's moccasins, and beaded pouches, to the Sioux tribes. This repatriation can start on or after July 22, 2026, and helps honor Native heritage by giving these items back to their rightful communities. No money changes hands, but the university is making sure these treasures find their way home safely and respectfully.

## Abstract

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Ball State University intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of objects of cultural patrimony and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

## Effects PRIA read

- Repatriation may begin July 22, 2026: benefit, high. Ball State University intends to return five Native American cultural items and repatriation may occur on or after July 22, 2026. The notice makes those items eligible to be handed over starting that date.
- Five items identified as cultural patrimony: benefit, high. Ball State University identified five objects as objects of cultural patrimony: one tomahawk (catalog 1938.500.150), one pair of child's moccasins (catalog 2018.051.022A-B), and three beaded pouches (catalogs 1975.017.027B, E, and F). The university determined these items have a cultural affiliatio…
- Who may request repatriation: benefit, medium. Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization may submit a written request for repatriation if they show by a preponderance of the evidence that they are a lineal descendant or culturally affiliated. Requests must be sent to the Ball State representative listed in the notice.
- No money will change hands: benefit, low. The notice states that no money changes hands as part of this repatriation. The items will be returned to the appropriate requestor without financial exchange.
- XRF testing and results sharing: benefit, low. Ball State University will perform requested XRF (X-ray fluorescence) testing on the items and will provide all test results to the requesting Tribal Nation. The university has no records indicating hazardous treatments but will run and share the tests.
- Competing and joint repatriation requests: mixed, low. If competing repatriation requests are received, Ball State University must determine the most appropriate requestor before repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation are treated as a single request and are not considered competing requests.

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## Sources
- [2026-12378 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/06/22/2026-12378/notice-of-intended-repatriation-ball-state-university-muncie-in)
- [2026-12378 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-06-22/pdf/2026-12378.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-12377, Notice of Inventory Completion: Mississippi Department of Archives and History,…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12377)
- [Next: 2026-12379, Notice of Intended Repatriation: Robert S. Peabody Institute of Archaeology, An…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12379)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12378 (as of 2026-06-29).