New Mexico Museum Identifies Ancestor Linked To Wyoming Historical Killing
Published Date: 10/16/2026
Notice
Summary
The University of New Mexico's Maxwell Museum has finished checking its collection and found human remains linked to Native American tribes from the late 1800s. These remains, connected to a historical figure killed in Wyoming, can be returned to the tribes starting November 16, 2026. This means Native communities can reclaim their ancestor’s remains, with no money involved, just respect and history coming home.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Remains affiliated with three Ute tribes
The University of New Mexico has determined that human remains representing at least one Native American individual are culturally affiliated with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe (Colorado), the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah & Ouray Reservation (Utah), and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe. The determination is based on historical documentation, kinship, and acquisition history.
Repatriation may occur starting November 16, 2026
Repatriation of the human remains described in this notice may occur on or after November 16, 2026. Written requests must be sent to Ash Boydston-Schmidt, Maxwell Museum of Anthropology, MSC01-1050, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, or via the museum email addresses listed in the notice.
Who can request and how competing claims are resolved
Requests for repatriation may be submitted by any one or more of the Indian Tribes named in the notice, or by any lineal descendant or Indian Tribe not named who shows by a preponderance of the evidence that they have cultural affiliation. If competing requests are received, the Maxwell Museum must determine the most appropriate requestor; joint repatriation requests are treated as a single (non-competing) request.
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