Kansas and Tennessee Unis Catalog Shared Native Remains
Published Date: 8/3/2026
Notice
Summary
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Kansas (KU) and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Department of Anthropology (UTK) have completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects and have 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
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Repatriation eligibility for tribes
The University of Kansas and the University of Tennessee have identified human remains representing at least 21 Native American individuals and 35 associated funerary objects from Osage County, Kansas, and have determined a cultural affiliation with the Kaw Nation (Oklahoma), Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma, and the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes (Oklahoma). Those identified tribes or any lineal descendant or other tribe/Native Hawaiian organization that proves affiliation by a preponderance of the evidence may request repatriation.
Repatriation timing and request rules
Repatriation may occur on or after September 2, 2026. Requests must be sent to the authorized representatives named in the notice; if competing requests are received, the University of Tennessee must determine the most appropriate requestor, while joint requests are treated as a single request.
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