Federal Register #2026-12387

Notice of Intended Repatriation of a Cultural Item by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and American Museum of Natural History

This notice concerns the intended repatriation of a cultural item by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), in partnership with the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH): - Government buyer: - U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) - American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) - No OEMs or commercial vendors are involved, as this is not a procurement action - Item for repatriation: - One ceramic small-mouthed olla (unassociated funerary object) - Culturally affiliated with the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians - Originally removed from the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation near Palm Springs, California - Held in museum collections since 1917 - Notable requirements and considerations: - Written requests for repatriation are invited from lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations with demonstrated cultural affiliation - The museum previously applied potentially hazardous pesticides to items in its collections; caution is advised when handling the material - This is a cultural repatriation notice under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), not a procurement or contract opportunity

Description

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) intend to repatriate a cultural item identified as an unassociated funerary object. The item is a ceramic small-mouthed olla with cultural affiliation to the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. The repatriation may occur on or after July 22, 2026, and requests for repatriation must be submitted by lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations with demonstrated cultural affiliation.

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