Michigan Uni Ships Back Ancient Bones: Tribal Repatriation Routine
Published Date: 9/23/2026
Notice
Summary
The University of Michigan has finished checking and identifying some ancient Native American remains and a special object found in Michigan. These remains and the object are linked to local Indian Tribes and will be returned to them starting October 23, 2026. If you want to request the return, you can contact the university soon—no money changes hands, just respect and care.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
University determined cultural affiliation
The University of Michigan found that one set of Ancestral human remains (one individual) and one associated funerary object (one lot of glass beads) are culturally affiliated with a set of Indian Tribes listed in this notice. The listed Tribes include: Bay Mills Indian Community; Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians; Hannahville Indian Community; Keweenaw Bay Indian Community; Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Michigan; Little River Band of Ottawa Indians; Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians; Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi; Miami Tribe of Oklahoma; Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi; Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians; Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan; and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. The University states these items were removed in 1958 from the Harland site (Sanilac County, Michigan) and dated to A.D. 1610–1670.
Who may request repatriation and how
If you represent one of the Tribes named in this notice, you may submit a written request for repatriation to the University of Michigan’s NAGPRA Office. Written requests may be submitted by: (1) any one or more of the Indian Tribes listed in the notice and, if joined to a listed Tribe’s request, the Burt Lake Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians or Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians as non-federally recognized groups; or (2) any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not listed that shows by a preponderance of the evidence it is culturally affiliated. Requests may be submitted for repatriation that may occur on or after October 23, 2026.
Competing requests and repatriation timing rules
If multiple requests for repatriation are received, the University of Michigan must determine the most appropriate requestor before repatriation. Joint repatriation requests are treated as a single request, and repatriation to the approved requestor may occur on or after October 23, 2026.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-04606, Alaska; Hunting and Trapping in National Preserves
The National Park Service wants to update hunting and trapping rules in Alaska’s national preserves to bring back long-standing practices that support state-authorized wildlife harvests and public access. These changes affect hunters, trappers, and anyone using Alaska park lands, aiming to balance conservation with local traditions. You’ve got until April 9, 2026, to share your thoughts—no new fees or costs are expected.
2026-20013, Agency Information Collection Activities; Archeology Permit Applications and Reports
The National Park Service wants to keep collecting info for archeology permits and reports, making sure the process stays smooth and clear. This affects archeologists and anyone applying for permits to dig or study artifacts in parks. They’re asking for comments by October 30, 2026, but no changes to fees or big costs are planned.
2026-20015, Agency Information Collection Activities; National Park Service Concessions Forms
The National Park Service is asking to keep using their current forms for park concessions, like shops and services, without changes. This affects businesses working with the parks and helps reduce paperwork hassle. You’ve got until October 30, 2026, to share your thoughts—no fees or new costs involved!
2026-19996, Notice of Intended Repatriation: California State University, Sacramento, Sacramento, CA
California State University, Sacramento plans to return over 8,500 cultural items to Native American tribes connected to northern Tehama County. These items include stones, bones, pigments, and historic materials, and the repatriation can start on or after October 30, 2026. This move respects Native heritage and involves no cost to the public but honors important cultural ties.
2026-19002, National Park Service Alaska Region Subsistence Resource Commission Program; Notice of Public Meetings
The National Park Service is holding meetings for Alaska's Subsistence Resource Commissions to discuss local hunting, fishing, and gathering rules. These meetings affect residents who rely on park resources and will happen mostly in October and November 2026, with one in February 2027. No big costs are expected, but these talks help keep subsistence traditions alive and fair.
2026-18306, Official Trail Marker for Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail
This notice issues the official trail marker insignia for the Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail in the National Trails System. The original graphic image for Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail was developed in 2026 with the completion of the Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail Comprehensive Plan. The National Park Service and related agencies have officially adopted and use this insignia to help mark all designated alignments of the Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-19465, Notice of Inventory Completion: Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Indiana University has finished checking its collection and found Native American human remains linked to several tribes. Starting October 23, 2026, these remains can be returned to the right tribes, including the Absentee Shawnee and Cayuga Nation. This is a respectful step to honor Native American heritage with no costs mentioned.
Next: 2026-19467, Notice of Intended Repatriation: Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, VA
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts plans to return a pair of 19th-century beaded moccasins to the Southern Ute Indian Tribe starting October 23, 2026. These moccasins are very special cultural items that belong to the tribe, and the museum doesn’t have the right to keep them. This repatriation shows respect for Native American heritage and follows important laws protecting cultural treasures.