Brown University Museum Lists 80 Native Remains
Published Date: 7/2/2026
Notice
Summary
Brown University’s Haffenreffer Museum has finished checking its collection and found at least 80 Native American human remains and some special objects linked to local tribes. Starting August 3, 2026, these remains and items can be returned to the tribes that they belong to. This is a big step in respecting Native American heritage and making things right.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Named Tribes Eligible for Repatriation
The Haffenreffer Museum at Brown University has identified human remains from at least 80 Native American individuals and nine associated funerary objects and determined they are culturally affiliated with the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, the Narragansett Indian Tribe, and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah). These remains and objects may be repatriated to those tribes on or after August 3, 2026.
Other Claimants Can Request Repatriation
Any other Indian Tribe or a lineal descendant not named in the notice may request repatriation if they show by a preponderance of the evidence that they are culturally affiliated. If multiple parties request the same remains or objects, the Haffenreffer Museum must determine the most appropriate requestor; requests submitted jointly are treated as a single request.
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