Remains of Shoshone Girl Repatriated After 126 Years to Duck Valley Reservation
The remains of Della Tuscarora Atkins, a Shoshone girl who died 126 years ago at the Carlisle Indian Industrial Boarding School in Pennsylvania, have been repatriated to the Duck Valley Indian Reservation. Her remains were brought home on September 17,…
Boise, ID, September 24, 2026 —
The remains of Della Tuscarora Atkins, a Shoshone girl who passed away 126 years ago, have been repatriated to the Duck Valley Indian Reservation. The repatriation ceremony took place on September 17, 2026, marking the return of Atkins to her ancestral lands after more than a century.
Atkins died at the Carlisle Indian Industrial Boarding School, located in Pennsylvania. Records indicate that her family lost contact with her following her death, leading to her remains being interred far from her home community. The circumstances surrounding the loss of contact after her death were not further detailed.
The Carlisle Indian Industrial Boarding School operated from 1879 to 1918. It was one of many federally funded boarding schools established to assimilate Native American children into dominant white culture. Students were often forbidden from speaking their native languages or practicing their cultural traditions. The school’s history has been marked by accounts of harsh discipline, illness, and the deaths of many students.
The repatriation of Della Tuscarora Atkins’ remains represents a significant moment for her family and the Duck Valley Indian Reservation. It allows for a proper burial according to tribal customs and provides closure for descendants who have sought to bring their lost relatives home. The date of Atkins’ original death was not specified, only that it occurred 126 years prior to the 2026 repatriation.
Efforts to identify and repatriate the remains of Native American children who died at boarding schools across the United States have been ongoing for years. These initiatives are crucial for addressing historical injustices and honoring the memory of the children who suffered and died while in the care of these institutions. The specific processes and timelines for identifying and returning remains can vary significantly depending on historical records and tribal engagement.
Story summarized from the original created by Ryan Dickstein on www.kivitv.com, see more information here.