Sam Noble Museum boosting effort to repatriate Native American remains

The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History is hiring a coordinator to improve repatriation efforts of Native American remains, according to Gaylord News. In 2023, ProPublica found that the museum was one of the largest holders of Native American remains and funerary objects in the country, with more than 3,800 Native American remains and over 115,500 associated funerary objects available to return to tribes. Since 1990, federal protections have been in place to ensure the respectful treatment of Native American human remains, and the museum has repatriated numerous items to tribes like the Choctaw Nation. The museum continues its repatriation efforts with ongoing consultations and inventories.