Staten Island Museum Catalogs Native Remains for Tribal Return
Published Date: 8/3/2026
Notice
Summary
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences (SIIAS) 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.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Tribes named as culturally affiliated
The Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences determined the human remains and associated funerary objects are culturally affiliated with the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians; Seminole Tribe of Florida; and The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma. Those three tribes are explicitly named in this notice as connected to the remains and objects.
Who may request repatriation
The notice says repatriation requests may be submitted by any one or more of the tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations named in this notice. It also allows any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not named to request repatriation if they show by a preponderance of the evidence that they are affiliated; joint requests count as a single request.
Earliest repatriation date and contact
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects may occur on or after September 2, 2026. Written requests for repatriation must be sent to Colleen Evans at the Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences, 1000 Richmond Terrace Building A, Staten Island, NY 10301, or by the email address given in the notice.
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