# 2026-12388: Met Museum to Return Human-Bone Flute to Chumash Tribe

2026-12388, Notice of Inventory Completion: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY, 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/2026-12388
- As of: 2026-06-29
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-12388
- Title: Notice of Inventory Completion: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
- Type: Notice
- Agencies: Interior Department; National Park Service
- Citation: 91 FR 37125
- 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

Met Museum to Return Human-Bone Flute to Chumash Tribe

## Summary

The Metropolitan Museum of Art found out that a flute in their collection was actually made from ancestral human remains linked to the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians. Starting July 22, 2026, the museum can return this flute to the tribe. This is part of a respectful effort to give back important cultural items and honor Native American heritage.

## Abstract

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), The Metropolitan Museum of Art has completed an inventory of human remains and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and Indian Tribe in this notice.

## Effects PRIA read

- Flute Return to Chumash Tribe: benefit, medium. The Metropolitan Museum of Art identified a flute in its collection as fashioned from ancestral human remains that are culturally affiliated with the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians. The museum may repatriate (return) this flute to the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians on or aft…
- Who Can Request Repatriation: benefit, low. Written requests to receive the human remains may be submitted by any of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations named in the notice, or by any lineal descendant or other tribe/organization that shows by a preponderance of the evidence it has cultural affiliation. If competing requests a…

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## Sources
- [2026-12388 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/06/22/2026-12388/notice-of-inventory-completion-the-metropolitan-museum-of-art-new-york-ny)
- [2026-12388 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-06-22/pdf/2026-12388.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-12387, Notice of Intended Repatriation: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ind…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12387)
- [Next: 2026-12389, Notice of Intended Repatriation: University of Alabama Museums, Tuscaloosa, AL](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12389)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12388 (as of 2026-06-29).