The Repatriation Database Data from Nov. 29, 2023

U.S. Department of Agriculture

U.S. Forest Service · 61 subunits · Multiple locations

The Dept. of Agriculture has the 26th largest collection of unrepatriated Native American remains in the U.S. The institution reported still having the remains of at least 700 Native Americans that it has not made available for return to tribes.

The institution has made available for return 88% of the more than 6,600 Native American remains that it reported to the federal government.

remains of 5,851 Native Americans made available for return to tribes

remains of at least 769 Native Americans not made available for return

Where Native American remains reported by the Dept. of Agriculture were taken from

Each county is a peak

Height is the minimum amount of remains taken from county, as reported by institution

Color is reported rate of remains made available for return to tribes

Institution reported no remains taken from these counties

Location of institution

Note: The Dept. of Agriculture reported remains of at least 213 Native Americans with no location information. 93% of these remains were made available for return to tribes.

Under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, when an institution establishes a connection between tribes and remains, it must publish a list of the tribes eligible to make a repatriation claim. The remains are then made available for return to the tribe(s). Once a tribal claim is made, physical transfer may occur. Many remains have been physically returned to tribes, but data on this is spotty because the law does not require institutions to report when these transfers occur.

Timeline of Native American remains made available for return to tribes by the Dept. of Agriculture

Tribal and institutional capacity, funding, staffing, regulatory changes, audits, Review Committee decisions and litigation may influence timelines. Under NAGPRA, institutions determine whether Native American remains may be returned through cultural affiliation using evidence such as tribal traditional knowledge and biological and archaeological links, or through disposition based on geographic affiliation.

How the Dept. of Agriculture compares to other institutions

The amount of Native American remains still held by institutions ranges widely.

The Dept. of Agriculture made Native American remains available for return to 124 tribes.

Institutions often make remains available for return to multiple tribes, so the amount of remains listed below may be counted for more than one tribe.

Tribe	Remains Made Available for Return To
Hopi Tribe of Arizona	5,296
Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico	4,223
Ak-Chin Indian Community	1,611
Gila River Indian Community of the Gila River Indian Reservation, Arizona	1,611
Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona	1,611
Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona	1,611
Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico	670
Ysleta del Sur Pueblo	506
Pueblo of Isleta, New Mexico	505
Pueblo of Sandia, New Mexico	505
Pueblo of Jemez, New Mexico	361
Pueblo of Picuris, New Mexico	357
Pueblo of Taos, New Mexico	357
Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico (formerly the Pueblo of San Juan)	352
Pueblo of Nambe, New Mexico	352
Pueblo of Pojoaque, New Mexico	352
Pueblo of San Ildefonso, New Mexico	352
Pueblo of Santa Clara, New Mexico	352
Pueblo of Tesuque, New Mexico	352
Pueblo of Cochiti, New Mexico	350
Pueblo of Zia, New Mexico	349
Pueblo of San Felipe, New Mexico	348
Pueblo of Santa Ana, New Mexico	348
Santo Domingo Pueblo	348
Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico	346
Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah	294
Mescalero Apache Tribe of the Mescalero Reservation, New Mexico	290
Comanche Nation, Oklahoma	289
White Mountain Apache Tribe of the Fort Apache Reservation, Arizona	288
Redding Rancheria, California	67
Pit River Tribe, California	66
Cherokee Nation	58
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians	58
United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma	58
Caddo Nation of Oklahoma	56
Osage Nation	31
Chenega, Native Village of (aka Chanega)	25
Eyak, Native Village of (aka Cordova)	25
Tatitlek, Native Village of	25
Kootznoowoo Incorporated	18
Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma	12
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma	12
Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma	12
Shawnee Tribe	12
Nez Perce Tribe	9
Miccosukee Tribe of Indians	8
Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation	7
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation	7
Crow Tribe of Montana	7
Lineal Descendant	7
Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians of the Santa Ynez Reservation, California	7
Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon	6
Kake, Organized Village of	6
Klawock Cooperative Association	6
Northern Cheyenne Tribe of the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, Montana	6
Ute Mountain Ute Tribe	6
Yakutat Tlingit Tribe	6
Chippewa Cree Indians of the Rocky Boy's Reservation, Montana	5
Northern Arapaho Tribe of the Wind River Reservation, Wyoming	5
Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians of Nevada	5
Wrangell Cooperative Association	5
Berry Creek Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California	4
Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, Oklahoma	4
Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon	4
Enterprise Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California	4
Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria, California	4
Mooretown Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California	4
Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians of California	4
Round Valley Indian Tribes of the Round Valley Reservation, California	4
Bishop Paiute Tribe	3
Burns Paiute Tribe	3
Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation	3
Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation	3
Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon	3
Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians of the Kaibab Indian Reservation, Arizona	3
Klamath Tribes	3
Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah	3
Quapaw Nation	3
Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, California	3
Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation, California	3
Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, Utah	3
Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation	3
Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas	2
Alabama-Quassarte Tribal Town, Oklahoma	2
Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana	2
Douglas Indian Association	2
Eastern Shoshone Tribe of the Wind River Reservation, Wyoming	2
Kialegee Tribal Town	2
Muscogee (Creek) Nation	2
Poarch Band of Creek Indians	2
Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of the Fort Hall Reservation	2
Southern Ute Indian Tribe of the Southern Ute Reservation, Colorado	2
Thlopthlocco Tribal Town	2
Utu Utu Gwaitu Paiute Tribe of the Benton Paiute Reservation, California	2
Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Montana	1
Bay Mills Indian Community, Michigan	1
Campo Band of Diegueno Mission Indians of the Campo Indian Reservation, California	1
Cape Fox Corporation	1
Capitan Grande Band of Diegueno Mission Indians of California	1
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of the Cheyenne River Reservation, South Dakota	1
Ewiiaapaayp Band of Kumeyaay Indians, California	1
Fort Sill Apache Tribe of Oklahoma	1
Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Michigan	1
Hydaburg Cooperative Association	1
Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel, California	1
Inaja Band of Diegueno Mission Indians of the Inaja and Cosmit Reservation, California	1
Jamul Indian Village of California	1
La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians, California	1
La Posta Band of Diegueno Mission Indians of the La Posta Indian Reservation, California	1
Leech Lake Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota	1
Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Michigan	1
Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan	1
Manzanita Band of Diegueno Mission Indians of the Manzanita Reservation, California	1
Mesa Grande Band of Diegueno Mission Indians of the Mesa Grande Reservation, California	1
Pala Band of Mission Indians	1
Pauma Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of the Pauma and Yuima Reservation, California	1
Pechanga Band of Indians	1
Petersburg Indian Association	1
Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians	1
San Pasqual Band of Diegueno Mission Indians of California	1
Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Michigan	1
Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation, Nevada	1
Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation	1
Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, North Dakota	1

The Dept. of Agriculture reported Native American remains from 61 sub-institutions.

Sub-institution	Remains Not Made Available for Return	Remains Made Available for Return	% of Remains Made Available for Return
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Santa Fe NF	258	27	9%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Tonto NF	97	1,396	94%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Stanislaus NF	88	0	0%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Gila NF	82	253	76%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Lincoln NF	45	1	2%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Prescott NF	34	22	39%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Shawnee NF	25	0	0%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Carson NF	15	14	48%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Ocala NF	15	8	35%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Daniel Boone NF	14	12	46%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Mark Twain NF	14	0	0%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Sierra NF	11	0	0%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Coconino NF	10	2,997	100%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Tongass NF, All Areas	9	41	82%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Cibola NF	8	197	96%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Los Padres NF	7	7	50%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Fishlake NF	6	1	14%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Francis Marion and Sumter NF	5	0	0%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Hoosier NF	5	0	0%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Wayne NF	5	0	0%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, George Washington and Jefferson NF	3	0	0%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Rio Grande NF	2	4	67%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Sequoia NF	2	3	60%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Southwestern Region	2	1	33%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Wasatch-Cache NF	2	0	0%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Coronado NF	1	217	100%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Apache-Sitgreaves NF	1	37	97%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Chattahoochee-Oconee NF	1	2	67%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Custer NF	1	0	0%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Dakota Prairie Grasslands	1	0	0%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Apache-Sitgreaves NF + Gila NF	0	288	100%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Lassen NF	0	66	100%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, San Juan NF	0	56	100%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Ozark-St. Francis NF	0	47	100%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Cherokee NF	0	46	100%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Chugach National Forest	0	25	100%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Ouachita NF	0	12	100%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Wallowa-Whitman NF	0	9	100%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Manti-La Sal NF	0	7	100%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Kaibab NF	0	6	100%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Humboldt-Toiyabe NF	0	5	100%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Medicine Bow-Routt NF and Thunder Basin NG	0	4	100%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Mendocino NF	0	4	100%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Pacific Southwest Research Station	0	4	100%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Angeles NF	0	3	100%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Deschutes NF	0	3	100%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Gifford-Pinchot NF	0	3	100%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Kootenai NF	0	3	100%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Rogue River NF	0	3	100%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Shoshone NF	0	3	100%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Cleveland NF	0	2	100%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Inyo NF	0	2	100%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, White River NF	0	2	100%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Arapaho-Roosevelt NF and Pawnee NG	0	1	100%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Bighorn NF	0	1	100%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Boise NF	0	1	100%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Chippewa NF	0	1	100%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Hiawatha NF	0	1	100%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Shasta-Trinity NF	0	1	100%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Siuslaw NF	0	1	100%
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, FS, Uinta NF	0	1	100%

The Dept. of Agriculture reported making 98% of more than 38,500 associated funerary objects available for return to tribes.

The funerary objects were taken along with Native American remains reported by the institution.

37,838 associated funerary objects made available for return to tribes

at least 749 associated funerary objects not made available for return

Search for institutions holding Native American remains and tribes seeking to reclaim them

Try the University of California, Berkeley, the Chickasaw Nation or Arizona.

Institutions that have not submitted information to the federal government are not listed.

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About the Data

This tool presents a dataset maintained by the National Park Service containing all the Native American human remains and associated funerary objects that institutions have reported to the federal government under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. The dataset includes information about the state and county where remains and objects were taken from, which institutions hold them and whether they have been made available for return to tribes.

The data is self-reported by institutions. The amount of unrepatriated Native American remains reported by institutions is a minimum estimate of individuals and institutions frequently adjust these numbers when they reinventory groups of remains. Some institutions that are subject to NAGPRA have also entirely failed to report the remains in their possession. As a result, the numbers provided are best taken as estimates. The actual number and geographic scope of what’s held by publicly funded institutions is larger than what is presently documented.

ProPublica supplemented this dataset with information about cultural affiliation and disposition to specific tribes by systematically parsing the text of Notices of Inventory Completion published in the Federal Register. An additional dataset from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Tribal Directory Assessment Tool, was used for the section on remains not made available for return from counties that each tribe has indicated interest in to the federal government.

Institution location and tribal headquarters location information was provided by National NAGPRA. The location of some groups that are not federally recognized was provided through research by ProPublica.

Institutions that are part of a larger entity are grouped. (For example, the Mesa Verde National Park is part of the U.S. Department of the Interior.)

Institutions that have not submitted information to the federal government are not listed. The Smithsonian Institution is not listed because its repatriation process falls under the National Museum of the American Indian Act and it is not required to publicly report its holdings with the same detail as institutions subject to NAGPRA.

If you work for an institution and would like to provide comment on your institution’s repatriation efforts, please email [email protected]. If you think the data is incorrect or have a data request, please get in touch. We are aware of some issues with the accuracy of location information and tribes mistakenly being identified for disposition of Native American remains in published notices.

If you want to share something else with ProPublica, we’d like to hear from you.

If you have questions about implementing or complying with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, get in touch with National NAGPRA or the NAGPRA Community of Practice.

We use the word “tribes” to refer to all groups that institutions made Native American remains available to under NAGPRA. This includes tribes, nations, bands, pueblos, communities, Native Alaskan villages, Native Hawaiian organizations and non-federally recognized groups.

Data sources from Department of the Interior, National Park Service, National NAGPRA Program, the Federal Register, Department of Housing and Development, Tribal Directory Assessment Tool

by Ash Ngu and Andrea Suozzo Jan. 11, 2023 Data from Nov. 29, 2023 Additional reporting by Asia Fields, Mary Hudetz and Logan Jaffe for ProPublica and Graham Brewer for NBC News. Additional development by Alec Glassford.