Steps We've Achieved
Michigan State University, along with significant help from many Tribal representatives, has been making considerable progress towards the repatriation of the Ancestors and cultural objects housed here. Check below to see some of the latest news on our progress!
MSU NAGPRA Policy Published
December 19, 2024
The MSU NAGPRA Policy, revised February 2024, has been published to the University Policies page.
Federal Agencies Notified
December 13, 2024
We have notified the appropriate federal agencies of collections currently held at MSU that are under their control, per the updated NAGPRA regulations (43 CFR 10.8).
Repatriation Request Received
December 10, 2024
A repatriation request for objects from Mackinac County has been received
Repatriation Request Received
November 25, 2024
Repatriation request received for Cass County Objects
Physical Return Completed!
May 8, 2024
Two more ancestors have been physically returned to the appropriate Tribes.
NAGPRA Policy Update
February 15, 2024
MSU has updated the NAGPRA Policy to reflect recent updates to the regulations.
Gros Cap Notice of Intent to Repatriate Published
September 11, 2023
The Notice of Intent to Repatriate was published for Gros Cap.
NAGPRA Project 1.5 Completed
July 4, 2023
NAGPRA Project 1.5: Emmet County, Kalamazoo County, and unknown counties from Michigan have been published in a Notice of Inventory Completion and had legal control transferred to the Tribes.
Gros Cap Ancestors Returned
June 13, 2023
Ancestors from the Gros Cap Archaeological District were returned to the Tribes.
NAGPRA Project 1.4 Completed
May 10, 2023
NAGPRA Project 1.4 - Cass and Oakland Counties - has been completed.
Transfer of Control Completed for Sacramento County, CA
March 22, 2023
Transfer of legal control has been completed for the Ancestor from Sacramento County, California.
Recent Article Published on State of Repatriation in U.S.
February 13, 2023
Suite of articles on repatriation and state of NAGPRA published
Transfer of Legal Control for Cass & Oakland Counties
December 19, 2022
Transfer of legal control was completed for Ancestors from Cass & Oakland Counties, Michigan
Notice Published; Transfer of Legal Control Completed
November 10, 2022
A Notice of Inventory Completion was published for Cass and Oakland Counties, Michigan. Transfer of legal control was completed for ancestors from Colorado and New Mexico.
University-wide NAGPRA Policy Adopted
September 30, 2022
In August of 2022, the University officially adopted a formal, university-wide NAGPRA Policy.
Repatriation Completed
March 17, 2022
In collaboration with the Seminole Tribe of Florida, MSU completed a repatriation and reburial of two ancestors.
New Notice Published
November 8, 2021
A new Notice of Inventory Completion was published November 8, 2021
New Federal Register notice published
October 27, 2021
The Federal Register notice for the Marquette Viaduct (20BY387) site was published on October 28, 2021.
MSU Awarded National Repatriation Grant
August 5, 2021 - Jessica Yann
Michigan State University awarded a National NAGPRA grant for repatriation
Notice for Gros Cap Archaeological District Published
July 18, 2021
The Notice of Inventory Completion for the Gros Cap Archaeological District was published July 19, 2021.
Inventory Published in Federal Register
July 5, 2021
Notice of Inventory Completion published for ancestor from La Porte County, Indiana
Repatriation update
February 19, 2021 - Jessica Yann
MSU has facilitated the physical return of 39 ancestors and 3 associated funerary objects since November.
New Federal Register Notice Published - Alaska
November 6, 2020
Ancestor from Kodiak, Alaska published in a notice in the Federal Register
Florida notice published
September 23, 2020
Federal Register notice for ancestors from Florida published
New Federal Register Notices Published
September 11, 2020
The National Park Service has published three Federal Register notices
Federal Register Notice Published
July 30, 2020
Federal Register notice for Navajo ancestor published.
Bundling of Ancestors Completed
March 3, 2020 - Jessica Yann, with contribution from William Johnson
Tribal representatives from throughout the state, along with MSU faculty, have completed the bundling of the ancestors housed at MSU.