The walker river paiute tribe will develop essential resources for repatriation and collections care

The Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded Walker River Paiute Tribe $147,916 on September 1, 2026, under the Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services Program (CFDA 45.308) to develop essential resources for repatriation and collections care.

The tribe will improve existing collections care environments, increase collections storage capacity, digitize cultural assets, and conduct research and documentation on identified cultural objects and remains. The project responds to more than 70 public notices published since November 2025 indicating the presence of potentially culturally affiliated human remains and cultural objects in museums throughout the country. The tribe will consult with elders and knowledge keepers to develop protocols for culturally appropriate return and interment. These activities will enable the tribe's Cultural Resources Department to carry out culturally appropriate repatriation activities and steward tribal collections in the long term.

Work is performed in Schurz, Nevada. The period of performance runs from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2029.

Project activities will include improving existing collections care environments and increasing collections storage capacity, digitization and digital asset management, research and documentation related to identified cultural objects and remains, and consultation with elders and knowledge keepers to develop protocols for culturally appropriate return and interment. The project involves responding to more than 70 public notices published since november 2025 indicating the presence of potentially culturally affiliated human remains and cultural objects in museums throughout the country. The project will enable the tribe's cultural resources department to carry out culturally appropriate repatriation activities and steward tribal collections in the long-term.