Indiana University Clears Native American Artifacts for Tribal Return
Published Date: 10/16/2026
Notice
Summary
Indiana University has finished checking some old Native American artifacts found in Indiana and confirmed they belong to certain Native tribes. Starting November 16, 2026, these items can be returned to the tribes connected to them. This is part of a law that helps return important cultural objects to Native communities, with no costs mentioned.
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Objects linked to named Tribes
Indiana University determined that three associated funerary object lots excavated from the Goodall Mounds site (La Porte County, Indiana) are culturally affiliated with specific Indian Tribes, including Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Citizen Potawatomi Nation (Oklahoma); Forest County Potawatomi Community (Wisconsin); Kaw Nation (Oklahoma); Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas; Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi; Miami Tribe of Oklahoma; Minnesota Chippewa Tribe (Mille Lacs Band); Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi (Michigan); Omaha Tribe of Nebraska; Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians (Michigan and Indiana); Ponca Tribe of Nebraska; Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation; Seneca Nation of Indians; Shawnee Tribe; and the Tonawanda Band of Seneca.
Repatriation may begin November 16, 2026
Repatriation of the three associated funerary object lots may occur on or after November 16, 2026; written repatriation requests must be sent to the Indiana University NAGPRA office at the address or email listed in the notice.
Who can request repatriation
Repatriation requests may be submitted by any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations named in the notice, or by any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not named who shows by a preponderance of the evidence that they are a lineal descendant or have cultural affiliation.
Competing and joint repatriation requests
If competing repatriation requests are received, Indiana University must determine the most appropriate requestor before repatriation; requests for joint repatriation are treated as a single request and not competing requests.
Three object lots identified for return
The inventory identifies three associated funerary object lots for repatriation: one lot of copper artifacts, one lot of clay/ceramic artifacts, and one lot of lithics; these were excavated in 1937 from the Goodall Mounds site and donated to Indiana University in 1943.
No hazardous substances present
Indiana University's inventory notes that there are no known hazardous substances present in the associated funerary objects identified for repatriation.
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