---
kind: "section"
citation: "25 U.S.C. § 3052"
title: "25"
title_heading: "Indians"
number: "3052"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/25/3052"
units:
  - "Chapter 32A — Cultural and Heritage Cooperation Authority"
---

# §3052. Definitions


In this chapter:

- (1) **Adjacent site—** The term “adjacent site” means a site that borders a boundary line of [National Forest System](#7) land.
- (2) **Cultural items—** The term “cultural items” has the meaning given the term in [section 3001 of this title](/usc/25/3001.md), except that the term does not include [human remains](#3).
- (3) **Human remains—** The term “human remains” means the physical remains of the body of a person of [Indian](#4) ancestry.
- (4) **Indian—** The term “Indian” means an individual who is a member of an [Indian tribe](#5).
- (5) **Indian tribe—** The term “Indian tribe” means any [Indian](#4) or Alaska Native tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, or other community the name of which is included on a [list](/usc/25/5130.md?p=3) published by the [Secretary](/usc/25/5130.md?p=1) of the Interior pursuant to [section 5131 of this title](/usc/25/5131.md).
- (6) **Lineal descendant—** The term “lineal descendant” means an individual that can trace, directly and without interruption, the ancestry of the individual through the traditional kinship system of an [Indian tribe](#5), or through the common law system of descent, to a known [Indian](#4), the [human remains](#3), funerary objects, or other sacred objects of whom are claimed by the individual.
- (7) **National Forest System—** The term “National Forest System” has the meaning given the term in [section 1609(a) of title 16](/usc/16/1609.md?p=a).
- (8) **Reburial site—** The term “reburial site” means a specific physical location at which [cultural items](#2) or [human remains](#3) are reburied.
- (9) **Traditional and cultural purpose—** The term “traditional and cultural purpose”, with respect to a definable use, area, or practice, means that the use, area, or practice is identified by an [Indian tribe](#5) as traditional or cultural because of the long-established significance or ceremonial nature of the use, area, or practice to the [Indian tribe](#5).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 110–234, title VIII, § 8102, May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1287; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title VIII, § 8102, June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2048.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 enacted identical sections. Pub. L. 110–234 was repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–234, see section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as a note under section 8701 of Title 7, Agriculture.