Federal Register #2026-14735

Notice of Intended Repatriation of Native American Cultural Items by Multiple Institutions

This notice details intended repatriations of Native American cultural items by several institutions under the oversight of the National Park Service: - Government Buyer: - Department of the Interior, National Park Service - Institutions Involved: - American Museum of Natural History - University of New Mexico Maxwell Museum of Anthropology - University of Michigan - Products/Items for Repatriation: - 55 associated funerary objects from the American Museum of Natural History - Includes paint stone, projectile points, scrapers, oyster shells, adze, helix shells, sherds, hammerstones, axes, blades, knives, pestle-like object, and other stone and shell artifacts - Affiliated with Delaware Nation, Delaware Tribe of Indians, and Stockbridge Munsee Community - 17 sacred objects/objects of cultural patrimony from the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology - Includes hide rattles, ceramic drum, prayer plume holders, basket hats/crowns, ceremonial bow, prayer stick, curing dolls, dance equipment, headdress frame, ceremonial hide painting, medicine pouch, and Yei mask - Affiliated with the Navajo Nation - 1 associated funerary object (botanical material) from the University of Michigan - Collected from Caplen Mound site, Galveston County, Texas - Notable Requirements: - Repatriation is conducted in accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) - No commercial OEMs or vendors are involved; this is a legal and cultural process - Repatriation may occur on or after the specified date, allowing time for interested parties to respond

Description

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of New Mexico, Maxwell Museum of Anthropology intends to repatriate 17 cultural items that are sacred objects or objects of cultural patrimony. These items include hide rattles, a ceramic drum, prayer plume holders, basket hats/crowns, a ceremonial bow, a prayer stick, curing dolls, dance equipment, a headdress frame, a ceremonial hide painting, a medicine pouch, and a Yei mask. The items have cultural affiliation with the Navajo Nation across Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. Repatriation may occur on or after August 21, 2026.

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