Rhode Island university identifies cultural items for tribal repatriation
Published Date: 10/30/2026
Notice
Summary
The University of Rhode Island has finished checking its collection and found Native American human remains and related items linked to local tribes. These remains and objects can be returned to the tribes starting November 30, 2026. This means the university is ready to give back important cultural items, respecting Native American heritage without any cost involved.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
One Native American set of remains identified
The University of Rhode Island identified human remains representing at least one Native American individual and three associated funerary objects. The three associated funerary objects are small glass vials containing soil that accompanied the remains.
Repatriation permitted beginning November 30, 2026
Repatriation of the identified human remains and associated funerary objects may occur on or after November 30, 2026. Written requests for repatriation must be sent to Kristine M. Bovy, Department of Sociology & Anthropology, University of Rhode Island (kbovy@uri.edu) or the Office of the General Counsel (URIGeneralCounsel@uri.edu).
Who may request repatriation and dispute rules
The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe; Narragansett Indian Tribe; and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) are identified as culturally affiliated and may submit repatriation requests. Any lineal descendant or other Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization can also request repatriation if they show by a preponderance of the evidence that they are affiliated; if competing requests are received, the University of Rhode Island must determine the most appropriate requestor, and joint requests are treated as a single request.
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Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-22155, Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI
The University of Rhode Island has finished checking its collection of Native American human remains and related items. They found a connection to certain Native tribes and are ready to return these remains starting November 30, 2026. This means tribes can now ask to have their ancestors’ remains and objects sent back, with no cost mentioned.
Next: 2026-22157, Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI
The University of Rhode Island finished checking its collection of human remains and found no clear connection to any Native American tribe or Native Hawaiian group. Starting November 30, 2026, these remains can be returned to tribes if requested. Several tribes were invited to discuss this, but no cultural ties were confirmed, so no money or urgent actions are involved right now.