Joshua Tree Park Prepares to Repatriate Tribal Artifacts
Published Date: 7/2/2026
Notice
Summary
Joshua Tree National Park has finished checking its collections and found human remains and 173 related items linked to Native American tribes. Starting August 3, 2026, these remains and objects can be returned to the tribes that they belong to. This process respects Native American heritage and follows important laws to make sure everything is done right.
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Repatriation of Native American remains
Joshua Tree National Park identified the human remains of one Native American individual and 173 associated funerary objects (including pottery sherds, a pottery disc, manos, quartz crystal, lithics, basketry fragments, and two arrow shaft fragments). The remains and objects are culturally affiliated with the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, Cahuilla Band of Indians, and the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, and may be returned to affiliated tribes on or after August 3, 2026. Requests for repatriation may be submitted by any one or more of the named tribes, by lineal descendants, or by other Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations that show cultural affiliation by a preponderance of the evidence.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile 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.
2026-19996, Notice of Intended Repatriation: California State University, Sacramento, Sacramento, CA
California State University, Sacramento plans to return over 8,500 cultural items to Native American tribes connected to northern Tehama County. These items include stones, bones, pigments, and historic materials, and the repatriation can start on or after October 30, 2026. This move respects Native heritage and involves no cost to the public but honors important cultural ties.
2026-20013, Agency Information Collection Activities; Archeology Permit Applications and Reports
The National Park Service wants to keep collecting info for archeology permits and reports, making sure the process stays smooth and clear. This affects archeologists and anyone applying for permits to dig or study artifacts in parks. They’re asking for comments by October 30, 2026, but no changes to fees or big costs are planned.
2026-20015, Agency Information Collection Activities; National Park Service Concessions Forms
The National Park Service is asking to keep using their current forms for park concessions, like shops and services, without changes. This affects businesses working with the parks and helps reduce paperwork hassle. You’ve got until October 30, 2026, to share your thoughts—no fees or new costs involved!
2026-19002, National Park Service Alaska Region Subsistence Resource Commission Program; Notice of Public Meetings
The National Park Service is holding meetings for Alaska's Subsistence Resource Commissions to discuss local hunting, fishing, and gathering rules. These meetings affect residents who rely on park resources and will happen mostly in October and November 2026, with one in February 2027. No big costs are expected, but these talks help keep subsistence traditions alive and fair.
2026-18306, Official Trail Marker for Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail
This notice issues the official trail marker insignia for the Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail in the National Trails System. The original graphic image for Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail was developed in 2026 with the completion of the Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail Comprehensive Plan. The National Park Service and related agencies have officially adopted and use this insignia to help mark all designated alignments of the Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-13327, Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
The University of Michigan has finished checking its collection and found ancestral human remains and a funerary object linked to Native American tribes from Texas. These items can be returned to the tribes starting August 3, 2026. This means important cultural treasures will soon go back home, honoring Native communities and their history.
Next: 2026-13329, Notice of Intended Disposition: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Joshua Tree National Park, Twentynine Palms, CA
Joshua Tree National Park plans to return the remains of two Native American individuals and 104 related artifacts to the rightful tribes, following the law that protects Native American graves. This process can start after August 3, 2026, and tribes have until July 2, 2027, to claim them. If no claims come in, the remains and objects will be considered unclaimed.