Art Museum Ships Sacred Item Back to Tribes, Yawn
Published Date: 7/31/2026
Notice
Summary
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Portland Art Museum intends to repatriate a certain cultural item that meets the definition of a sacred object and that has a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Portland Museum to Repatriate Bundle
The Portland Art Museum intends to repatriate a Nez Perce Medicine Bundle (object #87.88.99) that the museum has determined is a sacred object affiliated with the Nez Perce Tribe. The museum states repatriation of this item may occur on or after August 31, 2026.
Who Can Request Repatriation
Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not named in the notice may submit a written request for the item and must show by a preponderance of the evidence that they are a lineal descendant or culturally affiliated. Requests must be sent to the Portland Art Museum representatives listed in the notice, and repatriation may occur on or after August 31, 2026.
Competing and Joint Requests Rule
If competing requests for the item are received, the Portland Art Museum must determine the most appropriate requestor before repatriation; requests submitted jointly are treated as a single request. Any repatriation decision will be carried out on or after August 31, 2026.
Arsenic Test Result: Negative
On June 2, 2026, object #87.88.99 was tested for arsenic contamination and the results were negative. This reduces a potential health or safety barrier to returning and handling the item.
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Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-15507, Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Missouri, Museum of Anthropology, Columbia, MO
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Missouri, Museum of Anthropology has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
Next: 2026-15509, Notice of Intended Repatriation: Portland Art Museum, Portland, OR
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Portland Art Museum 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.