Knife River Site to Repatriate Ancestral Remains to Tribes
Published Date: 9/9/2026
Notice
Summary
The National Park Service at Knife River Indian Villages in North Dakota plans to return Native American human remains found during recent digs to the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation. If no one claims the remains by September 9, 2027, they’ll be considered unclaimed. This process starts on October 9, 2026, ensuring respect and proper care for these ancestral remains.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Three Affiliated Tribes Get Priority
The Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site has determined that the Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, North Dakota, has priority to receive the Native American human remains described in this notice. This means the Three Affiliated Tribes are first in line for disposition of the remains.
Claim Window and Deadline for Remains
You can submit a written claim for the human remains beginning October 9, 2026; claims must be received by September 9, 2027. If no claim is received by September 9, 2027, the remains will be designated as unclaimed human remains. Send claims to Tom Smith, Superintendent, Knife River Indian Villages, P.O. Box 9, Stanton, ND 58571, or email [email protected].
Who May File and How Competing Claims Work
Written claims may be submitted by any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization that shows it has priority for disposition. If competing claims are received, Knife River Indian Villages will determine the most appropriate claimant before disposition, and joint disposition claims are treated as a single claim rather than competing claims.
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