This Week in Tribal Affairs — Washington (#34, 2026)
Justice Department launches Tribal Court Census; HUD seeks nominations for Tribal Intergovernmental Advisory Committee; multiple NAGPRA repatriation notices issued across US universities.
August 30, 2026 to September 05, 2026
This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly digest of regulatory developments, legislative discussions and other government-related news concerning tribal affairs, the BIA, reservation lands, tribal statistical areas, and treaty rights. Once a week, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.
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📋 In This Week's Newsletter
Federal Government News
Justice Department Announces Census of Tribal Court Systems Information Collection
The Bureau of Justice Statistics, Department of Justice, posted a 30-day notice for public comment on the reinstatement with changes to the Census of Tribal Court Systems (CTCS) information collection, OMB Control Number 1121-0350. The 2026 CTCS is revised from the 2014 National Survey of Tribal Court Systems, covering staffing, case loads, training, juvenile justice, and operations of tribal law courts serving tribal lands. The CTCS will be fielded from January to April 2027, targeting approximately 378 tribal courts, with a projected total annual time burden of 417 hours and annual cost of $10,537.86. Respondents are tribal court staff, participation is voluntary, and published results will inform practitioners, Congress, and the public. Comments are being accepted until October 2, 2026, via www.reginfo.gov.
Sources: www.federalregister.gov
HUD Solicits Nominations for Tribal Intergovernmental Advisory Committee Membership
The Department of Housing and Urban Development posted a notice requesting nominations for its Tribal Intergovernmental Advisory Committee (TIAC), established in 2022. Seven committee positions expire at the end of 2026; nominations are due by November 2, 2026, with new terms beginning January 2027. The TIAC comprises 15 Tribal delegates drawn from HUD regions and at-large roles, focusing on American Indian and Alaska Native housing policy consultation. Nominees must be elected Tribal leaders or authorized officials, and HUD will cover costs for biannual in-person meetings. The TIAC supplements—but does not replace—other Tribal consultations.
Sources: www.federalregister.gov
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Ball State University, Muncie, IN
Ball State University, in accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), intends to repatriate one sacred object, a pair of beaded moccasins, and one object of cultural patrimony, a beaded belt, affiliated with the Northern Arapaho Tribe of the Wind River Reservation, Wyoming. The items were acquired in 1938 and 1983, respectively, and identified as Arapaho during consultation. Requests for repatriation must be submitted before September 30, 2026; competing requests will be evaluated by the university in accordance with NAGPRA regulations.
Sources: www.federalregister.gov
Notice of Intended Repatriation: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and California State University Stanislaus
The Bureau of Indian Affairs and California State University Stanislaus intend to repatriate 20 objects of cultural patrimony—pottery sherds and groundstone items—removed from Pauma Band of Luiseño Mission Indians Reservation land in San Diego County, California, in 1978 and 1979. The items were not officially accessioned by the university and have been housed at Stanislaus State. Repatriation is planned after September 30, 2026, and the university continues searching its collections for additional items associated with the Pauma Band. Requests must be submitted as outlined in the Federal Register notice.
Sources: www.federalregister.gov
Notice of Inventory Completion: The University of Texas at Austin, Texas Archeological Research Laboratory, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
The University of Texas at Austin Texas Archeological Research Laboratory (TARL) and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department issued notice of inventory completion for human remains of at least 193 individuals and 1,320 associated funerary objects collected from multiple sites in Nueces County, Texas. Cultural affiliation is determined with the Alabama-Coushatta Tribes of Texas; Apache Tribe of Oklahoma; Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, Oklahoma; Comanche Nation, Oklahoma; Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas; Kiowa Tribe; Mescalero Apache Tribe; Thlopthlocco Tribal Town; Tonkawa Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Wichita and Affiliated Tribes. Repatriation may occur after September 30, 2026, following submission of requests and resolution of competing claims.
Sources: www.federalregister.gov
