Arizona Museum Clears Path for Remains Repatriation
Published Date: 7/8/2026
Notice
Summary
The Arizona State Museum at the University of Arizona has finished checking its collection and found some Native American human remains linked to local tribes. Starting August 7, 2026, these remains can be returned to the tribes that they belong to. This is a respectful step to honor Native American heritage, with no money involved but important cultural care underway.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
81 Remains and 19 Objects Identified
The Arizona State Museum identified the physical remains of 81 Native American individuals and 19 associated funerary objects. The museum found a reasonable cultural connection between those remains/objects and the Ak-Chin Indian Community; Gila River Indian Community; Hopi Tribe; Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community; and the Tohono O'odham Nation.
Repatriation Eligible Beginning Aug 7, 2026
The notice says repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects may occur on or after August 7, 2026. Requests for repatriation must be sent to the Arizona State Museum authorized representative at the address or email listed in the notice.
Who May Request Repatriation
The listed Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations named in this notice may submit repatriation requests. Also, any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not named may request repatriation if they show by a preponderance of the evidence that they are a lineal descendant or are culturally affiliated.
Competing and Joint Repatriation Requests
If competing requests for repatriation are received, the Arizona State Museum must determine the most appropriate requestor before repatriation. Requests submitted jointly by multiple requestors are treated as a single request and not competing requests.
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Previous: 2026-13748, Notice of Inventory Completion: Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
The Arizona State Museum at the University of Arizona has finished checking its collection and found Native American human remains linked to local tribes. Starting August 7, 2026, these remains can be returned to the tribes for proper care. This is part of a respectful effort to honor Native American heritage and history.
Next: 2026-13750, Notice of Intended Repatriation: University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
The University of California, Berkeley plans to return 36 groups of important cultural items to Native American tribes connected to the Indian Wells area in California. These items, like stone tools and pottery pieces, have deep cultural meaning and will be repatriated starting August 7, 2026. This respectful move helps honor Native traditions and history without any cost to the tribes.