September 20, 2026 to September 26, 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.

Want to see GR activities in areas related to Tribal Affairs? Don't miss this week's updates in Social Issues and Environment. Also consider subscribing to our Indigenous Affairs - Ottawa edition covering critical GR news north of the border.

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

• 🇺🇸 Federal Government News
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

Federal Government News

Notice of Intended Repatriation: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

The University of Minnesota, via the National Park Service, announced its intention to repatriate 40 lots of unassociated funerary objects from Yellow Medicine County to the Upper Sioux Community. These items, comprising lithic materials, ceramics, soils, shell, faunal specimens, and historic material, were collected by anthropology faculty in the 1940s and donated in 1970 by a local collector. Repatriation requests from lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations are due by October 23, 2026. In the event of competing requests, the University will determine the appropriate recipient, treating joint submissions as single requests. Authority derives from the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Congressional Bills Signed into Law Affecting Industry

On September 25, 2026, six Congressional bills were signed into law. H.R. 3657 establishes annual reporting on hydropower licensing applications by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. H.R. 7250 reauthorizes funding for the Fort Peck Reservation Rural Water System. S. 550 confers jurisdiction to the U.S. Court of Federal Claims for land claims filed by the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma under a specific treaty. S. 603 designates the General George C. Marshall House as an affiliated area within the National Park System. S. 759 mandates publication of geographic regulatory data for the U.S. exclusive economic zone. S. 790 renames the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center in Casper, Wyoming. The S. 550 provision may have implications for tribal land rights and litigation.

Sources: www.whitehouse.gov

US, Denmark, and Greenland Amend 1951 Defense Agreement

The United States, Denmark, and Greenland concluded an agreement on September 22, 2026, amending the 1951 Defense Agreement. The revised terms permit expanded US military activities across Greenland, including modernized defense areas, unmanned installations, and access to territorial waters, with contractual preference for Greenlandic firms. The pact recognizes Greenland’s sovereignty, self-determination rights, and environmental and cultural interests. It restricts non-NATO military installations and influence in sensitive Arctic sectors. Denmark and the US commit to countering espionage and enhancing defense area security. The agreement becomes permanent, subject to parliamentary approvals, and remains effective if Greenland attains independence within NATO.

Sources: www.whitehouse.gov

Notice of Inventory Completion: Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN

Indiana State University completed an inventory under NAGPRA for remains of two Native American individuals and a turkey bone awl exposed during Dearborn County construction in May 1990. Cultural affiliation connects these remains to eight Tribes, including the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and Shawnee Tribe. Repatriation requests must be submitted in writing by October 23, 2026, with eligibility granted to identified Tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, or lineal descendants. Competing claims will be adjudicated by ISU.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Notice of Inventory Completion: The University of Tennessee and Frank H. McClung Museum

The University of Tennessee’s Department of Anthropology and Frank H. McClung Museum completed a NAGPRA inventory, determining cultural affiliation for remains of seven individuals and 29 funerary objects, including ceramics and faunal material, from Smyth and Wise Counties, Virginia. Affiliation is established with the Cherokee Nation, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Eastern Shawnee Tribe, Monacan Indian Nation, and United Keetoowah Band. Repatriation requests must be made to Dr. Ellen Lofaro by October 23, 2026, with procedure for resolving competing claims detailed within the notice.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

What We're Reading This Week

• They Kept Outsiders Away for 500 Years. Their World Is About to Change.: Indigenous communities in the Darién Gap face changes following road construction linking Panama and Colombia.

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