Alaska Notice Covers Return of Ancestral Remains from Aleutians
Published Date: 11/12/2026
Notice
Summary
The Bureau of Land Management in Alaska has finished checking and identifying 35 ancient human remains found on Aleutian Islands. These remains are linked to Native tribes, and starting December 14, 2026, they can be returned to their rightful communities. This process respects Native heritage and follows important laws protecting Native American graves.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
35 Ancestral Remains Identified
The Bureau of Land Management identified human remains representing at least 35 individuals of Native American ancestry excavated from sites on Akun and Akutan islands between 1970 and 1973. The BLM determined there is a cultural affiliation to the Native Village of Akutan, and these remains may be repatriated beginning December 14, 2026.
Who Can Request Repatriation
You can request repatriation by sending a written request to the BLM contact if you are the Native Village of Akutan or another Indian Tribe/Native Hawaiian organization identified in the notice. Requests may also be submitted by a lineal descendant or a Tribe/organization not listed that shows by a preponderance of the evidence that they are a lineal descendant or culturally affiliated; competing requests will be resolved by BLM and joint requests are treated as a single request.
Location and Condition of Remains
The remains are held at Arizona State University's Center for Archaeology and Society Repository and represent at least 35 individuals from four sites (Amatanan, Chulka, Saa, Siskena). No associated funerary objects are present and some remains show a clear coating that may be polyvinyl acetate.
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