Notice2025-10590

Notice of Intended Repatriation: The Field Museum, Chicago, IL

Primary source

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Published
June 11, 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 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 111 (Wednesday, June 11, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 111 (Wednesday, June 11, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Page 24652]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-10590]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0040320; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intended Repatriation: The 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 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 July 11, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the 
cultural items in this notice to Helen Robbins, The Field Museum, 1400 
S Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#422a302d20202b2c3102242b272e262f373127372f6c2d3025"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ed859f828f8f84839ead8b8488818980989e889880c3829f8a">[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 97 cultural items consisting of ceramic bowls, ladles, 
mugs, and jars from Coconino and Navajo Counties, Arizona have been 
requested for repatriation. On behalf of the Field Museum, Jesse A. 
Burt removed these 97 unassociated funerary objects during excavations 
at numerous sites in the fall of 1899 and winter of 1890. These sites 
include Wupatki, Wukoki as well as smaller sites along the Little 
Colorado River. All of the items included in this request are 
archaeological. Based on consultation, academic research, and Museum 
records, these sites are affiliated with the Hopi Tribe of Arizona. 
There is no known presence of any potentially hazardous substances used 
to treat any of the cultural items.

Determinations

    The Field Museum has determined that:
    <bullet> The 97 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 connection between the cultural items described 
in this notice and the Hopi Tribe of Arizona.

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 July 11, 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 28, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-10590 Filed 6-10-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P


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Indexed from Federal Register on June 11, 2025.

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