Effective law enforcement is essential to virtually every aspect of conservation, including culturally significant Native American artifacts. We at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service actively collaborate with Tribal Nations to ensure that culturally important items are protected and respectfully returned, reflecting our shared commitment to stewardship in the present day.
On September 2, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri announced that a collection of culturally significant Native American artifacts has been returned to The Osage Nation after the conclusion of a civil forfeiture action involving items that were unlawfully removed from federal lands near Harry S. Truman Lake, in Missouri.
The artifacts include a bag of Scallorn arrowheads that originate from a prehistoric archaeological site historically associated with The Osage Nation. Along with our U.S. Army Corps of Engineers law enforcement counterparts, special agents from the Office of Law Enforcement spent several years investigating and recovering unauthorized materials at the site so they could be properly safeguarded.
Following the entry of judgment by U.S. District Judge Brian Wimes, The Osage Nation and the United States executed a settlement ensuring the return of the arrowheads to the Tribal Nation. No other claims were filed for the property. The remaining archaeological materials will be handled using appropriate cultural resource protocols to ensure respectful treatment and disposition in accordance with federal law.
The Office of Law Enforcement is the investigative arm of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is tasked with investigating wildlife crimes, enforcing wildlife laws and regulating wildlife trade. We also aim to educate Americans about these important conservation laws and work in partnership with international, federal, state, local and tribal counterparts to conserve wildlife and cultural resources.
Our team is composed of special agents, wildlife inspectors, intelligence analysts, forensic scientists, information technology specialists and support staff, but we depend on people like you who join us in caring about and protecting biocultural heritage. If you see wildlife being sold in suspicious or secretive ways, don’t ignore it. Report it to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at 1-844-FWS-TIPS or fws.gov/tips.
