Federal Register #2026-18340

Notice of Intended Repatriation of Sacred and Cultural Items by Multiple Institutions

This notice from the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, addresses the intended repatriation of sacred and culturally significant items held by three institutions: - Government Buyer: - National Park Service (Department of the Interior) - National NAGPRA Program - Institutions and Items for Repatriation: - Ball State University: Human remains of one Native American individual affiliated with multiple tribes - Huntington Museum of Art: One pair of sacred Assiniboine dance moccasins - Milwaukee Public Museum: 161 sacred Hawaiian cultural items (stone images, kapa cloths, musical bows, and more) - Products/Services Requested: - Repatriation services for human remains and sacred objects - No commercial products, part numbers, or OEMs involved - Unique Requirements: - Repatriation conducted under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) - Eligibility for repatriation requests limited to lineal descendants or culturally affiliated tribes/organizations - Process for handling competing repatriation requests outlined - No OEMs or commercial vendors are involved, as this is a cultural and legal process rather than a procurement of goods or services.

Description

The Huntington Museum of Art (HMoA) intends to repatriate a sacred cultural item, specifically one pair of dance moccasins, that has a cultural affiliation with Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. The moccasins were collected between 1882 and 1958 from an unknown location in Montana and are identified as belonging to the Assiniboine Tribe from the 19th century. The repatriation is conducted in accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) and may occur on or after October 9, 2026. Requests for repatriation can be submitted by lineal descendants or culturally affiliated tribes or organizations.

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