Notice2025-06637
Notice of Intended Repatriation: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Washington, DC
Primary source
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Published
April 18, 2025
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 74 (Friday, April 18, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 74 (Friday, April 18, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Page 16546]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-06637]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0039947; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: U.S. Department of the Interior,
Bureau of Indian Affairs, Washington, DC
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 U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau
of Indian Affairs (BIA) intends to repatriate certain cultural items
that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects and that have
a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian
organizations in this notice.
DATES: Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on
or after May 19, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Tamara Billie, NAGPRA Manager, Bureau of Indian Affairs,
1001 Indian School Road NW, Mailbox 44, Albuquerque, NM 87104,
telephone (505) 879-9711, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c4b0a5a9a5b6a5eaa6ada8a8ada184a6ada5eaa3abb2"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2054414d4152410e42494c4c4945604249410e474f56">[email 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
BIA. Additional information on the determinations in this notice,
including the results of the 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 984 cultural items have been requested for repatriation:
957 ceramic vessel fragments (GRSM 49652-GRSM49663, GRSM 172213-172223,
GRSM 172229-172246), one unmodified stone (GRSM 172247), 10 shatter
(GRSM 17226), two biface (GRSM 12227), 10 lithic flakes (GRSM 172225,
GRSM 172228), two cores (GRSM 1722224, and two faunal bones (GRSM
172248).
Between 1935 and 1936, 984 cultural items were removed from a site
in the Qualla Boundary, NC. Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Forestry
Technician, George MacPherson, was authorized to conduct surface and
pedestrian surveys of possible archeological sites when time permitted
alongside his official trail work. Items were removed without
permission or authorization. A review of archeological field notes and
reports shows that the cultural items listed in this notice as
unassociated funerary objects were placed with individual human remains
at the burial. Information obtained during consultation, the items
listed in this notice are culturally affiliated with the Eastern Band
of Cherokee Indians, the Cherokee Nation, and the United Keetoowah Band
of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma.
Determinations
The BIA has determined that:
<bullet> The 984 unassociated funerary objects described in this
notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with
or near human remains and are connected, either at the time of death or
later as part of the death rite or ceremony of a Native American
culture according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a
lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization. The
unassociated funerary objects have been identified by a preponderance
of the evidence as related to human remains, specific individuals, or
families, or removed from a specific burial site or burial area of an
individual or individuals with cultural affiliation to an Indian Tribe
or Native Hawaiian organization.
<bullet> There is a reasonable connection between the cultural
items described in this notice and the Cherokee Nation; Eastern Band of
Cherokee Indians; and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in
Oklahoma.
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, Indian Tribe, 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 or Native Hawaiian
organization.
Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to a requestor
may occur on or after May 19, 2025. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, the BIA must determine the most appropriate
requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of
cultural items are considered a single request and not competing
requests. The BIA is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to
the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this
notice and to any other consulting parties.
Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act,
25 U.S.C. 3004 and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9.
Dated: April 8, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-06637 Filed 4-17-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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