Indiana U. Returns Montana Native Remains – Heritage Honored, Yawn
Published Date: 9/16/2026
Notice
Summary
Indiana University has finished checking and identifying Native American human remains and related items found in Montana. They’ve confirmed these remains belong to Native American tribes and are ready to return them starting October 16, 2026. If you want to request the return, contact the university soon—this is a respectful step honoring Native American heritage with no cost involved.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Eligible tribes may request repatriation
If you are a member, lineal descendant, or an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization with cultural affiliation, you may request repatriation of the two identified Native American human remains and the one associated funerary object. The notice lists the Blackfeet; Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes (Oklahoma); Chippewa Cree (Rocky Boy's); Crow; Eastern Shoshone (Wind River); Fort Belknap; Northern Arapaho (Wind River); Northern Cheyenne; and Shoshone-Bannock (Fort Hall) as affiliated. Repatriation may occur on or after October 16, 2026, and requests must be sent to the Indiana University NAGPRA contact listed in the notice.
University resolves competing repatriation claims
If more than one tribe, descendant, or organization requests repatriation of the same remains or objects, Indiana University must determine the most appropriate requestor before repatriation. Requests submitted jointly by multiple parties are treated as a single (non-competing) request. Repatriation may occur on or after October 16, 2026.
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