TVA prepares to return ancestral remains of more than 4,800 Native Americans
The Tennessee Valley Authority has taken a critical step toward returning the ancestral remains of more than 4,800 Native Americans to as many as 21 Native American tribes.
The ancestral remains and associated funerary objects had been removed by TVA from sites in Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama, three of the seven states in TVA’s region.
A notice was filed in the Federal Register for publication on March 29 of the federal utility's intent to repatriate all ancestral remains and associated funerary objects it has.
The process of repatriation allows tribes and descendants to take possession of the remains of their ancestors and associated funerary objects that were previously removed from their original resting places.
How repatriation requests will work
TVA will make the remains of ancestors and associated funerary objects available for return on or after April 29, 2023.
Requests for repatriation can be made by any of the Native American tribes TVA identifies in its notice. Any descendants, Native American tribe or Native Hawaiian organization who is not identified in the notice can make a request if they can prove through a preponderance of evidence that they are a lineal descendent, culturally affiliated Native American tribe or Native Hawaiian organization, according to the notice.
Competing requests could be filed, in which case TVA would determine “the most appropriate requestor.”
In cases in which a request for joint repatriation is made, the request will not be considered competing but treated as a singular request.
Requests can be sent to Meg Cook at the Tennessee Valley Authority, 400 W. Summit Hill Drive, WT11C, Knoxville, TN 37902-1401, phone 865-253-1265, email tvatribal@tva.gov.
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Where were the resting places of ancestral remains before they were moved by TVA?
TVA identified ancestral remains of at least 4,871 Native American individuals, as well as 1,389 lots of objects that TVA believes were placed with or near the ancestral remains “at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony,” the notice said.
The ancestral remains and associated funerary objects originated from three states: Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama, and are being held by TVA and its partner repositories which include the University of Tennessee, the University of Alabama, the University of Kentucky, Mississippi State University and Southern Illinois University.
Ancestral remains of at least 3,676 individuals were previously removed from the eastern half of Tennessee.
Ancestral remains of at least 465 individuals were previously removed from the western half of Tennessee.
Ancestral remains of at least 722 individuals were previously removed from Alabama.
Ancestral remains of at least eight individuals were previously removed from Kentucky.
Which tribes has TVA contacted about repatriation?
TVA sent a copy of the notice to the Native American tribes it listed, including:
Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma
Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas
Cherokee Nation
Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana
Delaware Nation, Oklahoma
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma
Jena Band of Choctaw Indians
Kialegee Tribal Town
Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians
Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma
Poarch Band of Creek Indians
Quapaw Nation
Shawnee Tribe
The Chickasaw Nation
The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
The Muscogee (Creek) Nation
The Osage Nation
The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma
Thlopthlocco Tribal Town
The United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma
Anila Yoganathan is an investigative reporter. Email anila.yoganathan@knoxnews.com. Twitter @AnilaYoganathan. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: TVA set to return ancestral remains of nearly 5,000 Native Americans
