University Catalogs Native Ancestors for Possible Tribal Repatriation
Published Date: 10/30/2026
Notice
Summary
SUNY Cortland’s Anthropology Department has finished checking out some old human remains and artifacts linked to Native American tribes. These items, connected to at least six people, might be returned to tribes starting November 30, 2026. This update affects tribes tied to Susquehannock lands and involves no costs but marks an important step in respecting Native heritage.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Repatriation may begin November 30, 2026
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects may occur on or after November 30, 2026. Written requests for repatriation must be sent to Kent Johnson at SUNY Cortland, Sociology/Anthropology Department, P.O. Box 2000, Cortland, NY 13045, or by the email address listed in the notice.
SUNY Cortland identifies Onondaga affiliation
SUNY Cortland determined there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and the Onondaga Nation. This determination affects which tribe is connected to the remains for purposes of repatriation.
Who may request repatriation and how disputes are handled
Requests for repatriation may be submitted by any of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations identified in the notice, or by any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not identified that shows by a preponderance of the evidence they are a lineal descendant or culturally affiliated. If competing requests are received, SUNY Cortland must determine the most appropriate requestor; joint repatriation requests are treated as a single request.
Inventory size: six individuals and 94 bags
SUNY Cortland's inventory identifies human remains representing at least six individuals and at least 94 bags of associated funerary objects, including seeds, shell fragments, charred wood fragments, soil, non-human animal bone fragments, and plant fragments. These items entered SUNY Cortland around 2010 and were later secured in the department's facilities.
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