If you are a Tribal representative interested in reviewing any of the listed associated documentation or would like additional information, please email Dr. Jessica Yann, NAGPRA Program Manager, at yannjess@msu.edu.
You may also complete this NAGPRA Information Request form for more information.
One individual labeled as being from Kodiak, Alaska
This ancestor is listed in the Federal Register listing (link to notice) from November 6, 2020.
This ancestor was successfully transferred to the Sun'aq Tribe of Kodiak on May 20, 2022.
Transfer of legal control for this ancestor was completed on December 23, 2020 to the following Tribes:
On May 28, 2019, multiple bags containing Ancestral remains were found in the Michigan State University's Forensic Anthropology Laboratory, under the label of "cave dweller prehistoric AZ." In July 2019, a ceramic vessel was confirmed to be associated with the Ancestor, labeled as a "Gila Crematory urn."
The ancestor and vessel were acquired by Michigan State University as part of the Boudeman Collection. On October 10, 1961, the Michigan State University Museum acquired the Boudeman Collection from Mrs. Donna Boudeman, whose husband, Donald Boudeman, collected in Alaska, Siberia, and continental North America in the 1920s and 1930s.
This Ancestor was included in the Federal Register publication (link to published notice) on September 11, 2020.
We are still awaiting repatriation requests for this Ancestor.
4 individuals labeled as from Watlings Island, Bahamas
The remains of one Ancestor were recovered from the Colorado River in California at an unknown date.
MNI = 1
Invitations to consult were sent out in July and August. We have reached out to the following Tribes:
Non-Federally Recognized:
This individual was recently (5/2022) located within the collections. We have very little documentation for this ancestor, only the original inventory listing.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published on January 30, 2023 and can be viewed here (pdf).
Legal control for this ancestor was transferred to Wilton Rancheria, California on March 22, 2023. Physical transfer was completed on May 1, 2024.
Montezuma County (Catalog number 2004.46.73): MNI = 1
Montezuma County (Catalog number 2008.85.12, 2008.85.13, 2008.85.16): MNI = 2
These ancestors were included in the Federal Register notice (link to notice) published on August 30, 2022.
Legal control for these ancestors was transferred on October 27, 2022 to the culturally affiliated Tribes.
We are still awaiting a Tribe to request the physical return of these Ancestors.
Published to the Federal Register on September 24, 2020
Returned on March 9, 2022
These ancestors were both included in the Federal Register publication (link to published notice) for September 24, 2020.
Legal control for these ancestors was transferred on October 30, 2020 to the following Tribes:
These ancestors were physically returned to the Seminole Tribe of Florida on March 9, 2022.
This individual was included in the Federal Register publication (link to published notice) for July 6, 2021.
Legal control was transferred to the Tribes requesting it on October 15, 2021.
This ancestor was returned to the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi on November 12, 2021.
We have at least 6 unassociated funerary objects from Wayne County, Kentucky. The objects are all inscribed as having come from "cliff burial". Object identification numbers are 2004.46.52, 2007.79.74, 2007.79.1, 2007.73.34, 2001.14.51, and 2007.73.25.
All the objects originated from the Don Boudeman collection, which was comprised of items Don purchased from throughout the United States
We have one unassociated funerary object listed as originating from a "stone grave" in Trigg County, Kentucky (object number 2009.90.3). The object is a ceramic figuring of a woman. This item is also part of the Boudeman collection.
For a list of Collections originating in Michigan, please go here:
Three ancestors were identified from archaeological excavation conducted in 1994 at the site of Kite Pueblo (LA-199) in Torrance County, New Mexico. There are no identified associated funerary objects.
MNI = 3
AFO = 0
We have the archaeological reports for this work (both the field report and the burial report) on file and available upon request.
These ancestors were included in the Federal Register notice that was published on August 30, 2022.
Legal control for these ancestors was transferred on October 27, 2022 to all of the culturally affiliated Tribes listed below.
We are still awaiting a Tribe to request the physical return of these Ancestors.
One individual was identified within an older donation to the MSU bioarchaeology laboratory labeled as "Navajo". There were no accompanying funerary objects.
MNI = 1
AFO = 0
There is no associated documentation for this individual.
Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico & Utah
The Federal Register notice for this individual was published on July 30,2020.
You may access the notice through this link: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/07/30/2020-16496/notice-of-inventory-completion-Michigan-state-university-east-Lansing-mi
Legal control for this ancestor was transferred on September 23, 2020 to the Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico & Utah. The physical transfer of the ancestor was completed on April 30, 2024.
We have one unassociated funerary object labeled as having originated from a "prehistoric stone grave." The artifact is object number 2006.69.22, from Davidson County, Tennessee. It is a ceramic effigy pot.
We have one unassociated funerary object labeled as a "dipper(cup) from stone grave", from Montgomery County, Tennessee. The object number is 2007.77.1.
Both items are part of the Boudeman collection, comprised of items purchased from across the United States by Don Boudeman, and then donated to MSU by his widow.
For a list of collections where we have no provenience information, go to this page:
Ancestors recovered from the Buffalo Site (46Pu13) were identified within faunal remains present in the archaeological collections.
MNI = 16
AFO = 0
We have the archaeological reports for this work (the initial site report and the faunal analysis) on file and available upon request.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published on November 6, 2020. The ancestors were returned/transferred to the Sun'aq Tribe of Kodiak on May 20, 2022.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published on July 30, 2020. The ancestors were returned/transferred to the Navajo Nation on April 30, 2024.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published on January 30, 2023. The ancestor was returned to Wilton Rancheria on May 1, 2024.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published on September 24, 2020. The ancestor was returned/physically transferred to the Seminole Tribe of Florida on March 9, 2022.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published on September 24, 2020. The ancestor was returned/physically transferred to the Seminole Tribe of Florida on March 9, 2022.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published on July 6, 2021. The ancestor was returned/physically transferred to the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians on November 12, 2021.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published on September 8, 2020. The ancestor was returned/transferred to the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe on August 25, 2022.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published on September 11, 2020. The ancestor was returned/transferred to the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe on August 25, 2022.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published on September 15, 2020. The ancestor was returned/transferred to the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi on February 17, 2021.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published on October 28, 2021. The ancestor was returned/transferred to the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe on August 25, 2022.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published on September 15, 2020. The ancestors were returned/transferred to the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi on November 11, 2020.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published on September 15, 2020. The ancestor was returned/transferred to the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi on December 15, 2020.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published on November 10, 2022. The ancestor was returned to the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi on May 11, 2023.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published on September 11, 2020. The ancestor was returned/transferred to the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians on November 16, 2020.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published on September 11, 2020. The ancestors were returned/transferred to the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe on August 25, 2022.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published on September 15, 2020. The ancestor was returned/transferred to the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi on December 15, 2020.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published on September 8, 2020. The ancestors were returned/transferred to the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe on August 25, 2022.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published on September 15, 2020. The ancestor was returned/transferred to the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians on November 16, 2020.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published in the Federal Register on September 9, 1996 for 145 individuals and 65,160 associated funerary objects. The ancestors and associated funerary objects were returned/transferred to the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan on October 11, 1996 and October 15, 1996.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published on September 11, 2020. The ancestor was returned/transferred to the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa on November 23, 2020.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published on September 11, 2020. The ancestors were returned/transferred to the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe on August 25, 2022.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published on September 15, 2020. The ancestors were returned/transferred to the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe on August 25, 2022.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published on September 15, 2020. The ancestors were returned/transferred to the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe on August 25, 2022.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published on September 11, 2020. The ancestors were returned/transferred to the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe on August 25, 2022.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published on September 11, 2020. The ancestors were returned/transferred to the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe on August 25, 2022.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published on September 15, 2020. The ancestor was returned/transferred to the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi on February 17, 2021.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published on September 15, 2020. The ancestors were returned/transferred to the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe on August 25, 2022.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published in the Federal Register on September 18, 1998, for 137 individuals and 18,622 associated funerary objects. The ancestors and associated funerary objects were returned/transferred to the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians during a consultation held on October 29, 1998.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published on September 11, 2020. The ancestor was returned/transferred to the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians on November 16, 2020.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published on September 15, 2020. The ancestor was returned/transferred to the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi on December 15, 2020.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published on September 15, 2020. The ancestors were returned/transferred to the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe on August 25, 2022.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published on September 15, 2020. The ancestor was returned/transferred to the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa on November 23, 2020.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published in the Federal Register on April 5, 2016 for three ancestors and three associated funerary objects. The ancestors and objects were transferred to the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan and Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Michigan on May 6, 2016.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published on September 11, 2020. The ancestors were returned/transferred to the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe on August 25, 2022.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published on September 8, 2020. The ancestor was returned/transferred to the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi on December 15, 2020.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published on November 10, 2022. The ancestors were returned to the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi on April 25, 2023.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published on September 11, 2020. The ancestor was returned/transferred to the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians on November 16, 2020.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published on September 15, 2020. The ancestors were returned/transferred to the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe on August 25, 2022.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published on September 15, 2020. The ancestors were returned/transferred to the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe on August 25, 2022.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published in the Federal Register on September 30, 2013 for 10 ancestors and no associated funerary objects. The ancestors were returned/transferred to the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published on September 15, 2020. The ancestors were returned/transferred to the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe on August 25, 2022.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published on September 15, 2020. The ancestors were returned/transferred to the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe on August 25, 2022.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published on September 15, 2020. The ancestors were returned/transferred to the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe on August 25, 2022.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published on September 15, 2020. The ancestor was returned/transferred to the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa on November 23, 2020.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published on September 15, 2020. The ancestor was returned/transferred to the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa on November 23, 2020.
With permission of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, these Ancestors were returned to West Virginia to be reburied.
The Notice of Inventory Completion was published on November 8, 2021. The ancestors were returned/transferred to the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians on August 11, 2022.
In addition to these cases, several ancestors that arrived at Michigan State University through the Forensic Anthropology Lab (FAL) were determined to not be under the control of Michigan State University, and transfer of their possession was facilitated to either the agency that had control, or to that agency’s designee.
Little information is present regarding this particular case. It likely came in as a forensic case, and was present in the FAL in 2004. There were a minimum of two ancestors present. These ancestors were initially listed on the Michigan State University’s NAGPRA inventory; however, it was determined that control of these ancestors remained with the local police agency and at an unknown date (after April of 2014 but prior to January 2015) possession was transferred to that agency.
Several ancestors (MNI=3) were located at an unknown time in Mackinaw City, Michigan and were excavated by the Michigan Bureau of History. They were brought to Michigan State University to be identified by the physical anthropologists. At some point, it was determined that the ancestors were still controlled by Mackinac State Historic Parks and possession was transferred back to that agency. These ancestors may have been included in that agency's Federal Register Notice from December 4, 2008.
In January of 2008, house construction in Flint unearthed human skeletal remains. These initially identified individuals were transferred to Michigan State University, where the physical anthropologists identified a minimum of two individuals, at least one of which was male. There were no associated funerary objects reported. Working under direction from the landowner (the Genesee County Land Bank), Michigan State University transferred possession of the ancestors to the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan on April 3, 2013.
Ancestral remains from the Zimmerman site were found in the Forensic Anthropology Laboratory, from Margaret Kimball Brown's dissertation work. These Ancestors were returned to the Illinois State Museum who is completing NAGPRA compliance on all the Ancestors from this site.