The National Park Service, in compliance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands plans to return human remains found on Federal or Tribal lands to their rightful descendants or affiliated tribes. The remains, identified as belonging to a Native American individual, were discovered in the Zuni Mountains of New Mexico in 1992. The Hopi Tribe of Arizona, Pueblo of Acoma, Pueblo of Laguna, and the Zuni Tribe have priority in claiming these remains. If no claims are received by January 20, 2026, the remains will be deemed unclaimed.
Simple Explanation
The Forest Service wants to give back the bones of a Native American person found in New Mexico to the right people or tribes. If no one comes to claim them by next year, they will be kept unclaimed.