ASU Preps Sacred Items for Native Hands
Published Date: 8/31/2026
Notice
Summary
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Center for Archaeology and Society Repository (CASR) acting in place of the Arizona State University (ASU) School of Human Evolution and Social Change (SHESC) intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects, sacred objects, and/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
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
ASU to Return 32 Cultural Lots
Arizona State University's repository intends to repatriate a total of 32 lots of cultural items to Tribes identified in this notice. The 32 lots include 12 lots described as unassociated funerary objects and 20 lots described as sacred objects or objects of cultural patrimony, and the items have documented affiliation with the Ak-Chin Indian Community; Gila River Indian Community; Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community; and the Tohono O'odham Nation.
Other Tribes May Request Repatriation
Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not listed may submit a written request for repatriation if they show by a preponderance of the evidence that they are culturally affiliated. If competing requests are received, ASU's repository must determine the most appropriate requestor; requests for joint repatriation count as a single request.
Additional Items Will Be Returned
The notice states that if additional sacred objects, objects of cultural patrimony, or unassociated funerary objects are located within the collections discussed, they will be returned to the Tribe as part of this repatriation. ASU CASR also confirms it is unaware of pesticide or other hazardous treatment to the listed items.
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In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Center for Archaeology and Society Repository (acting in place of the Arizona State University School of Human Evolution and Social Change) intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects, sacred objects, and/or objects of cultural patrimony and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
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