NAGPRA Inventory Completion - Kansas State Historical Society Human Remains
Summary
The National Park Service published notice that the Kansas State Historical Society completed a NAGPRA inventory identifying human remains from one individual (UBS 1991-84) from Woodbury County, Iowa. The remains are culturally affiliated with the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe of South Dakota and the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska. Repatriation may occur on or after May 4, 2026.
What changed
The Kansas State Historical Society has completed its Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) inventory, identifying human remains representing at least one individual from Woodbury County, Iowa, recovered in 1902 from a burial site described as 'a grave of a Sioux Indian 8 miles south of Sioux City.' The KSHS determined cultural affiliation with the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe of South Dakota and the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska. No associated funerary objects are present, and the remains were not treated with hazardous substances.
Repatriation requests may be submitted by the identified tribes, lineal descendants, or other tribes/organizations demonstrating cultural affiliation by preponderance of evidence. Written requests must be sent to Dr. Nicole Klarmann at the Kansas State Historical Society. Repatriation may occur on or after May 4, 2026. If competing requests are received, KSHS must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation.
What to do next
- Submit written repatriation requests to Dr. Nicole Klarmann at Kansas State Historical Society if claiming cultural affiliation with the identified remains
- Consult with legal counsel if competing claims to repatriation may exist
- Retain documentation of any tribal affiliation or descendant status for claims
Source document (simplified)
Notice
Notice of Inventory Completion: Kansas State Historical Society, Topeka, KS
A Notice by the National Park Service on 04/02/2026
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- Public Inspection Published Document: 2026-06348 (91 FR 16733) Document Headings ###### Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION:
Notice.
SUMMARY:
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Kansas State Historical Society (KSHS) has completed an inventory of human remains and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
DATES:
Repatriation of the human remains in this notice may occur on or after May 4, 2026.
ADDRESSES:
Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains in this notice to Dr. Nicole Klarmann, Kansas State Historical Society, 6425 SW 6th Avenue, Topeka, KS 66615-1099, email kshs.nagpra@ks.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the KSHS, and additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in its inventory or related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.
Abstract of Information Available
Human remains representing, at least, one individual have been identified from Woodbury County, Iowa (UBS 1991-84), the ancestral homelands of the Oceti Sakowin and the Omaha and Ponca Tribes. No associated funerary objects are present. Partial human remains were conveyed to KSHS by an individual from South Dakota in 1902. The catalog describes them as `from a grave of a Sioux Indian 8 miles south of Sioux City.' White beads were found with the burial but were considered lost as of 1985. To our knowledge, no known hazardous substances have been used to treat the human remains.
Cultural Affiliation
Based on the information available and the results of consultation, cultural affiliation is reasonably identified by the geographical location or acquisition history of the human remains described in this notice.
Determinations
The KSHS has determined that:
- The human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of one individual of Native American ancestry.
- There is a connection between the human remains described in this notice and the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe of South Dakota and the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska.
Requests for Repatriation
Written requests for repatriation of the human remains in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this notice under ADDRESSES. Requests for repatriation may be submitted by:
Any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice.
Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal descendant or an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization with cultural affiliation.
Repatriation of the human remains described in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after May 4, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the KSHS must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the human remains are considered a single request and not competing requests. The KSHS is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice and any other consulting parties.
Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.10.
Dated: March 24, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-06348 Filed 4-1-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
Published Document: 2026-06348 (91 FR 16733)
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