Notice2025-05597

Notice of Intended Repatriation: American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY

Primary source

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Published
April 2, 2025

Issuing agencies

Interior DepartmentNational Park Service

Abstract

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of objects of cultural patrimony and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribe in this notice.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 62 (Wednesday, April 2, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 62 (Wednesday, April 2, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Page 14467]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-05597]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0039801; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intended Repatriation: American Museum of Natural 
History, New York, NY

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and 
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the American Museum of Natural History 
(AMNH) intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the 
definition of objects of cultural patrimony and that have a cultural 
affiliation with the Indian Tribe in this notice.

DATES: Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on 
or after May 2, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Nell Murphy, American Museum of Natural History, Central 
Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY 10024, telephone (212) 769-5837, 
email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bbd5d6cec9cbd3c2fbdad6d5d395d4c9dc"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7a14170f080a12033a1b1714125415081d">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is published as part of the 
National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. 
The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
AMNH, and additional information on the determinations in this notice, 
including the results of consultation, can be found in the summary or 
related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the 
determinations in this notice.

Abstract of Information Available

    A total of 40 cultural items have been requested for repatriation. 
The 40 objects of cultural patrimony comprise a partial Beaver Bundle. 
Dr. Clark Wissler, Curator of the Department of Anthropology, purchased 
the bundle in 1917 from a family member of the previous owner. The 
Beaver Bundle was accessioned that same year.
    While it no longer does so, in the past, the Museum applied 
potentially hazardous pesticides to items in the collections. Museum 
records do not list specific objects treated or which of several 
chemicals used were applied to a particular item. Therefore, those 
handling this material should follow the advice of industrial 
hygienists or medical personnel with specialized training in 
occupational health or with potentially hazardous substances.

Determinations

    The American Museum of Natural History has determined that:
    <bullet> The 40 objects of cultural patrimony described in this 
notice are objects that have ongoing historical, traditional, or 
cultural importance central to a Native American group, including any 
constituent sub-group (such as a band, clan, lineage, ceremonial 
society, or other subdivision), according to the Native American 
traditional knowledge of an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian 
organization.
    <bullet> There is a reasonable connection between the cultural 
items described in this notice and the Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet 
Indian Reservation of Montana.

Requests for Repatriation

    Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items 
in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified 
in this notice under ADDRESSES. Requests for repatriation may be 
submitted by any lineal descendant or Native Hawaiian organization not 
identified in this notice who shows, by a preponderance of the 
evidence, that the requestor is a lineal descendant or a culturally 
affiliated Indian Tribe.
    Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to a requestor 
may occur on or after May 2, 2025. If competing requests for 
repatriation are received, the AMNH must determine the most appropriate 
requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the 
cultural items are considered a single request and not competing 
requests. The AMNH is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to 
the Indian Tribe identified in this notice.
    Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 
25 U.S.C. 3004 and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9.

    Dated: March 21, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-05597 Filed 4-1-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P


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Indexed from Federal Register on April 2, 2025.

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