Notice2025-08770

Notice of Intended Repatriation: Field Museum, Chicago, IL

Primary source

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Published
May 16, 2025

Issuing agencies

Interior DepartmentNational Park Service

Abstract

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Field Museum intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of sacred objects and that have a known lineal descendant.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 94 (Friday, May 16, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 94 (Friday, May 16, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Page 21061]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-08770]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0040144; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intended Repatriation: Field Museum, Chicago, IL

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 Field Museum intends to repatriate 
certain cultural items that meet the definition of sacred objects and 
that have a known lineal descendant.

DATES: Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on 
or after June 16, 2025.

ADDRESSES: June Carpenter, NAGPRA Director, Field Museum, 1400 S Lake 
Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605, telephone (312) 665-7820, email 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a3c9c0c2d1d3c6cdd7c6d1e3c5cac6cfc7ced6d0c6d6ce8dccd1c4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0e646d6f7c7e6b607a6b7c4e68676b626a637b7d6b7b6320617c69">[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 
Field Museum, 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 one lot of cultural items has been requested for 
repatriation. The one lot of sacred objects consists of carved wood 
items. They were collected by George Dorsey in 1898 from what is now 
Issaquah, on the southeast end of Lake Sammamish in Washington State, 
and accessioned by the Field Museum in 1899. There is no known presence 
of any potentially hazardous substances.

Determinations

    The Field Museum has determined that:
    <bullet> The one lot of sacred objects described in this notice are 
specific ceremonial objects needed by a traditional Native American 
religious leader for present-day adherents to practice traditional 
Native American religion, according to the Native American traditional 
knowledge of a lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian 
organization.
    <bullet> Blake Shelafoe is connected to the cultural items 
described in this notice.

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 June 16, 2025. If competing requests for 
repatriation are received, the Field Museum 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 Field Museum 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: May 6, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-08770 Filed 5-15-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P


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Indexed from Federal Register on May 16, 2025.

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