Florida State to Repatriate Iowa-Found Native Remains to Tribes
Published Date: 3/16/2026
Notice
Summary
The Florida Department of State has finished checking and listing Native American human remains and related items connected to three individuals. These remains, found in Iowa but now in Florida, can be returned to Native tribes starting April 15, 2026. If you want to request the return, you need to contact the department by then—no money changes hands, just respect and care.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Named tribes and descendants can request repatriation
The Florida Department of State completed an inventory of human remains representing at least three Native American individuals and two associated funerary (unmodified faunal) objects. Repatriation may occur on or after April 15, 2026, and written requests must be sent to Tea Kaplan, Florida Department of State, 2100 W Tennessee Street, Tallahassee, FL 32304, email [email protected]. The notice identifies cultural affiliation with the following tribes: Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe; Citizen Potawatomi Nation; Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe; Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin; Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska; Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma; Lower Sioux Indian Community (MN); Miami Tribe of Oklahoma; Omaha Tribe of Nebraska; Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians (OK); Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma; Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Ponca Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Ponca Tribe of Nebraska; Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation; Sac & Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska; Sac & Fox Nation, Oklahoma; Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa; Santee Sioux Nation, Nebraska; Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate; Spirit Lake Tribe; The Osage Nation; Three Affiliated Tribes (Fort Berthold); Upper Sioux Community; Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska; and Yankton Sioux Tribe.
How competing repatriation requests are resolved
If more than one eligible requestor seeks repatriation, the Florida Department of State must determine the most appropriate requestor before repatriation; joint requests are treated as a single request. Eligible requestors include any one or more of the tribes listed in this notice or any lineal descendant or tribe/organization not named that shows cultural affiliation by a preponderance of the evidence.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this federal register document and every other regulation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-04606 — Alaska; Hunting and Trapping in National Preserves
The National Park Service wants to update hunting and trapping rules in Alaska’s national preserves to bring back long-standing practices that support state-authorized wildlife harvests and public access. These changes affect hunters, trappers, and anyone using Alaska park lands, aiming to balance conservation with local traditions. You’ve got until April 9, 2026, to share your thoughts—no new fees or costs are expected.
2026-06355 — Notice of Intended Repatriation: Mills College Art Museum, Northeastern University, Oakland, CA
Mills College Art Museum at Northeastern University plans to return 11 Native American cultural items, like woven baskets and ceremonial caps, to the rightful tribes starting May 4, 2026. This move respects Native heritage and follows important laws protecting these sacred objects. No money changes hands, but the museum is making sure these treasures go back home where they belong.
2026-06094 — Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; NPS Case and Outbreak Investigation Data Collections
The National Park Service wants to update and renew its forms for tracking cases and outbreaks in parks. This affects park staff and anyone involved in health investigations, aiming to make data collection easier and faster. Comments are open until April 29, 2026, with no new costs expected.
2026-06089 — Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Reporting and Recordkeeping for Snow Coaches and Snowmobiles, Yellowstone National Park
The National Park Service is renewing its paperwork rules for snow coaches and snowmobiles in Yellowstone without any changes. This affects tour operators who must keep reporting and recordkeeping as before, with no new fees or deadlines beyond the April 29, 2026 comment period. It’s all about keeping things smooth and safe on the snowy trails!
2026-05798 — Agency Information Collection Activities; National Historic Landmarks Nomination Form
The National Park Service wants to keep using the National Historic Landmarks Nomination Form and is asking for your thoughts by April 24, 2026. This form helps decide which places get special historic status, affecting property owners and history fans. There’s no new cost, just a chance to share your ideas and keep the process smooth and easy.
2026-05790 — Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Redevelopment at the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Campus
The National Park Service and the District of Columbia are teaming up to plan a big makeover of the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium area. They want to build new homes, shops, parks, and better roads and transit near the Anacostia River. Everyone’s invited to share their thoughts by April 24, 2026, as this project could change the neighborhood and boost the local economy.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-05044 — Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
The University of Michigan has finished checking its collection and found one Native American individual connected to the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians. Starting April 15, 2026, the university can return these remains to the tribe. This process follows important laws to respect Native American heritage, with no costs or risks involved.
Next: 2026-05046 — Notice of Intended Repatriation: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Washington, DC, and Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA
The U.S. Department of the Interior and Western Washington University plan to return 330 important cultural items to Native American tribes starting April 15, 2026. These items, found during 1954 excavations on Squaxin Island, include tools, bones, shells, and more, all connected to the tribes’ heritage. This repatriation respects tribal history and involves no costs or hazards to the public.
Take It Personal
Get Your Personalized Policy View
Start a Free Government Policy Watch to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.
Already have an account? Sign in