Indiana Uni Repatriates Sacred Native Artifacts to Tribes
Published Date: 8/31/2026
Notice
Summary
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Ball State University intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of sacred objects or objects of cultural patrimony and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Repatriation of Two Arapaho Objects
Ball State University intends to repatriate two cultural items affiliated with the Northern Arapaho Tribe: a pair of beaded moccasins (sacred object, catalog 1938.500.223a‑b) and a beaded beaded belt (object of cultural patrimony, catalog 1983.006.051). The university may transfer these items on or after September 30, 2026.
Who Can Request Repatriation
Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization may submit a written request for these cultural items if they show by a preponderance of the evidence that they are a lineal descendant or culturally affiliated. Requests must be sent to Chyan Gilaspy, Ball State University, Applied Anthropology Laboratories, 2000 W Riverside Avenue, Muncie, IN 47306, or by the email address listed in the notice; repatriation may occur on or after September 30, 2026.
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Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-17697, Notice of Intended Repatriation: Arizona State University, School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Tempe, AZ
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Arizona State University, Center for Archaeology and Society Repository (ASU CASR) acting in place of the Arizona State University School of Human Evolution and Social Change (ASU SHESC) intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of sacred objects and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
Next: 2026-17699, Notice of Inventory Completion: The University of Texas at Austin, Texas Archeological Research Laboratory, Austin, TX, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Austin, TX
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), The University of Texas at Austin, Texas Archeological Research Laboratory (TARL), and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) 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.