Birmingham Art Museum Preps Native Human Remains for Tribal Return
Published Date: 9/9/2026
Notice
Summary
The Birmingham Museum of Art has finished checking its collection and found human remains linked to Native American tribes. These remains can be returned to the tribes starting October 9, 2026. This is part of a respectful effort to honor Native American heritage, with no costs mentioned for the process.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Repatriation available starting October 9, 2026
If you are a member of one of the tribes identified or a lineal descendant, the Birmingham Museum of Art says the human remains may be repatriated on or after October 9, 2026. Written requests must be sent to Dr. Anne Forschler-Tarrasch at the Birmingham Museum of Art (2000 Rev. Abraham Woods, Jr. Blvd., Birmingham, AL 35203) or by email to [email protected].
Who may request repatriation
The notice says any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations named in the notice may request repatriation. It also allows any lineal descendant or Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not named to request repatriation if they show, by a preponderance of the evidence, that they are lineal descendants or have cultural affiliation.
Museum determined tribal cultural affiliation
The Birmingham Museum of Art determined the human remains represent at least one Native American individual and identified cultural affiliation to the following groups, among others: Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Alabama Coushatta Tribe of Texas; Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town; Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma; Jena Band of Choctaw Indians; Kialegee Tribal Town; Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians; Poarch Band of Creek Indians; Seminole Tribe of Florida; The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; Thlopthlocco Tribal Town; and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma.
Competing and joint repatriation request rules
If the Birmingham Museum of Art receives competing requests for repatriation, the museum must decide which requestor is most appropriate before returning the remains. Requests made jointly by multiple requestors are treated as a single request and therefore are not considered competing requests.
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