Wesleyan University Plans to Return Hawaiian Sacred Objects
AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.
Wesleyan University plans to repatriate 13 Hawaiian cultural items identified as sacred objects under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. The items include bamboo stamps, gourd containers, bark cloth, a poi pounder, adze blades, a kapa beater, a whale tooth pendant necklace, and a wooden model canoe. Repatriation may take place on or after July 22, 2026. Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations with additional claims should send written requests to Wesleyan University's Archaeology & Anthropology Collections before the transfer moves forward.
AI-generated summary. May contain errors. Refer to official sources for legal decisions.
Key Changes
- Wesleyan University identifies 13 Hawaiian cultural items as sacred objects eligible for repatriation.
- The listed items may be returned on or after July 22, 2026.
- Additional written repatriation requests must be sent to Wesleyan University's Archaeology & Anthropology Collections.
Obligations
What this law requires
Native Hawaiian organizations or Tribes asserting an additional claim for the identified Hawaiian sacred objects must submit an additional written request for repatriation to Wendi Field Murray at Wesleyan University's Archaeology & Anthropology Collections before repatriation proceeds.
Wesleyan University may proceed with repatriation of the 13 identified Hawaiian sacred objects only on or after July 22, 2026, allowing time for additional written repatriation requests.