Contaminated? History Colorado Returns Sacred Pipes and Headdresses to Tribes
Published Date: 8/13/2026
Notice
Summary
History Colorado plans to return 15 sacred Native American cultural items, like pipes and headdresses, to the tribes they belong to starting September 14, 2026. These items, collected over 100 years ago, may be contaminated, so handling them carefully is important. This repatriation respects Native American heritage and follows federal law, with no costs mentioned for the public.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Repatriation of 15 Sacred Items
History Colorado intends to return 15 sacred objects/objects of cultural patrimony that are culturally affiliated with the Oglala Sioux Tribe. The items include a beaded pouch, a buckskin shirt, an eagle bone whistle, a headdress, pipes, tomahawks, and other ceremonial objects. Repatriation may occur on or after September 14, 2026.
Who Can Request Repatriation
Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization may submit a written request for repatriation by showing, by a preponderance of the evidence, their relationship. If competing requests are received, History Colorado must decide the most appropriate requestor; joint requests are treated as a single request. Requests should be sent to the authorized representative listed in the notice.
Potential Contamination of Objects
Several objects in the Olop Collection have tested positive for contamination and heavy metals, and other items stored with them should be considered potentially contaminated. Handlers and requestors should treat those cultural items as potentially contaminated due to their shared storage history.
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Previous: 2026-16486, Notice of Intended Repatriation: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Mesa Verde National Park, CO
Mesa Verde National Park plans to return 23 Native American cultural items, like pottery and tools, to the tribes they belong to. This repatriation will start on or after September 14, 2026, following laws that protect Native American heritage. If you want to learn more or request repatriation, contact the park superintendent.
Next: 2026-16488, Notice of Inventory Completion: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Cumberland Island National Seashore, St. Marys, GA
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Cumberland Island National Seashore has completed an inventory of human remains and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.