Federal Register #2026-07389

Notice of Intended Repatriation of Native American Cultural Items by Field Museum, Chicago, IL

This notice concerns the intended repatriation of Native American cultural items by the Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois, under the oversight of the National Park Service (Department of the Interior): - Government Buyer: - National Park Service (Department of the Interior) - Field Museum, Chicago, IL (holding institution) - Cultural Items for Repatriation: - 1 unassociated funerary object (basket) - 6 sacred objects (mortar, pestle, tobacco, angelica root, snuff and salt grass, medicine) - 34 objects of cultural patrimony (including baskets, brush, arrow plane, necklace, gorget, moccasins, bow, arrows, mortars, pestles, pipe, stone tools, tobacco) - Notable Requirements: - Items were collected in 1901 from Kern County, California, by Dr. John Hudson for the Field Museum - The Tejon Indian Tribe is identified as culturally affiliated with these items - Repatriation is governed by the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) - Claims may be made by lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations - No commercial OEMs or vendors are involved, as this is a cultural and legal process, not a procurement of goods or services.

Description

The Field Museum in Chicago intends to repatriate 41 cultural items including unassociated funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony that have cultural affiliation with Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. These items were collected in 1901 from Kern County, California, and include baskets, ceremonial objects, and tools. The repatriation process is conducted under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) and may occur on or after May 18, 2026. Requests for repatriation can be submitted by lineal descendants or affiliated tribes and organizations.

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