Kansas uni ships Pamunkey Tribe's ancestors home after federal inventory check
Published Date: 9/23/2026
Notice
Summary
The University of Kansas has finished checking and listing Native American human remains and special items linked to the Pamunkey Indian Tribe from Virginia. Starting October 23, 2026, these remains and objects can be returned to the tribe. This process helps honor Native American heritage and follows important laws protecting their history.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Repatriation of one Native individual and 142 objects
The University of Kansas has identified the physical remains of one Native American individual and 142 associated funerary objects (including 91 projectile points, four drills, various ceramic pieces, 24 bifaces, and a groundstone gorget) that are affiliated with the Pamunkey Indian Tribe of Virginia. These remains and objects can be returned to the Pamunkey Indian Tribe on or after October 23, 2026; the materials were collected by James Sheldon Carey in 1934–1935 and donated to KU in 1996.
Who may request repatriation and resolution rules
If you are a Pamunkey Tribal representative or a lineal descendant, you may submit a written request for repatriation to the University of Kansas; other Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations or individuals can also request repatriation if they show by a preponderance of the evidence they are lineal descendants or culturally affiliated. If competing requests are received, the University of Kansas must determine the most appropriate requestor before repatriation; repatriation 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: 2026-19475, Notice of Inventory Completion: Lindsborg Old Mill and Swedish Heritage Museum, Lindsborg, KS
The Lindsborg Old Mill and Swedish Heritage Museum in Kansas has finished listing Native American human remains and related items, linking them to local tribes. Starting October 23, 2026, these remains and objects can be returned to the rightful Native communities. This process respects Native heritage and follows important laws protecting their ancestors.
Next: 2026-19477, Notice of Inventory Completion: Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN
Indiana State University has finished checking and identifying Native American human remains and a funerary object found in Dearborn County, Indiana. These remains belong to two Native American individuals, and the university is ready to return them to the affiliated tribes starting October 23, 2026. If you want to request the return, contact ISU soon—no money changes hands, just respect and care for these important cultural items.