Illinois Uni Preps to Ship Back Unattached Tribal Funerary Goods
Published Date: 8/31/2026
Notice
Summary
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects 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.
University intends to return 115 funerary items
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign plans to repatriate 115 unassociated funerary objects to affiliated Native communities. The objects are connected to the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, Mi'kmaq Nation, Passamaquoddy Tribe, and the Penobscot Nation, and repatriation may occur on or after September 30, 2026.
Other descendants or tribes can file claims
Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not named in this notice may submit a written request for repatriation if they show by a preponderance of the evidence that they are culturally affiliated. Requests must be sent to the University contact listed in the notice and repatriation may occur on or after September 30, 2026.
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Key Dates
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Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-17703, Notice of Intended Repatriation: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Washington, DC, and California State University Stanislaus, Turlock, CA
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the California State University Stanislaus 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.
Next: 2026-17705, Notice of Inventory Completion: Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Jackson, MS
The Mississippi Department of Archives and History finished checking and listing Native American funerary objects tied to certain tribes. Starting September 30, 2026, these items can be returned to the tribes that they belong to. This update affects tribes connected to these objects and helps honor their cultural heritage without any cost to the public.