The National Park Service has announced that, following the guidelines of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the U.S. Forest Service plans to return human remains and funerary objects to relevant Native American groups. These remains and objects, unearthed at sites in Montezuma County, CO, relate to at least 10 Native American individuals and date to periods between A.D. 500 and 1840. The notice sets an April 16, 2025 date for the potential disposition of these items, with a final claim deadline of March 17, 2026. Several tribes and organizations have priority in claiming these remains back, including multiple Pueblos in New Mexico and Ute Tribes in Colorado and Utah.
Simple Explanation
The Forest Service wants to give back ancient human bones and special items to the Native American groups they belong to. They are making sure the right groups get them back by a certain date next year, and they are also trying to make sure everyone is happy with how it’s done.