Notice2025-11946
Notice of Intended Repatriation: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Branch of Cultural Resources Management, Washington, DC
Primary source
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Published
June 27, 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 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 122 (Friday, June 27, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 122 (Friday, June 27, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27672-27673]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-11946]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0040440; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: U.S. Department of the Interior,
Bureau of Indian Affairs, Branch of Cultural Resources Management,
Washington, DC
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
[[Page 27673]]
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 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 July 28, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the
cultural items in this notice to Tamara Billie, Bureau of Indian
Affairs, Branch of Cultural Resources Management, 1001 Indian School
Road NW, Mailbox 44, Albuquerque, NM 87104, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6f1b0e020e1d0e410d060303060a2f0d060e41080019"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3b4f5a565a495a1559525757525e7b59525a155c544d">[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
Bureau of Indian Affairs, 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 five cultural items have been requested for
repatriation. The five sacred objects are three lots of ceramic
material and two lots of lithic material are ceramic sherds and lithic
flakes. Site LA833 is part of a large Pueblo I-II (A.D. 850-1150)
community complex with scattered house units surrounding a great kiva,
located within Santa Fe County on Pueblo of Pojoaque land.
Archaeological investigations in 1953 and 1959 concluded, and material
culture indicates, continuous cultural occupation. Based on material
culture, continuity of occupation, and oral history presented by
representatives of the Pueblo of Pojoaque, site LA 833 is affiliated
with the present-day Pueblo of Pojoaque. Pojoaque cultural members have
indicated in consultations that they hold all items used, made, or
produced by their ancestors as sacred objects. There are no known
hazardous substances used to treat any of these objects.
A total of 190 cultural items have been requested for repatriation.
The 190 sacred objects are 14 lots of ground stone, 74 lots of lithics,
29 lots of ceramic/sherds, one lot of historic objects, three lots of
unworked stone, 10 lots ceramic/vessels, 20 lots of ornamentals, eight
lots of pipes, one lot of mineral, one lot of botanical, two lots of
fauna, two lots of cloud blowers, three lots of ceramic objects, seven
lots of organic, five lots of worked ceramic/sherds, six lots of worked
stone, one lot of worked shell, one lot of unworked shell, one lot of
temper, and one lot of medicine stone. The objects of cultural
patrimony are represented by all these artifact types listed and
include lithic flakes and tools, pottery sherds and partial vessels,
manos and metate fragments, animal bone, both worked and unmodified,
beads and ornamental objects, botanical materials and soil or pollen,
and historic objects. Site LA835 is a Pueblo I-II (A.D. 850-1150) site
that consists of a community complex with scattered house units and a
great kiva located within Santa Fe County on the Pueblo of Pojoaque
land. Excavations at LA 835 by a New Mexico State Highway and
Transportation Department project exposed three room blocks, 10 kivas,
and a great kiva. Exploratory and test trenches were dug around the
three excavated units to determine the full extent of the site and to
collect archaeological material to date the site. The material culture
collected indicates continuous cultural occupation. Based on material
culture, continuity of occupation, and oral history presented by
representatives of the Pueblo of Pojoaque, site LA 835 is affiliated
with the present-day Pueblo of Pojoaque. Pojoaque cultural members have
indicated in consultation that they hold all items used, made, or
produced by their ancestors as sacred objects. There are no known
hazardous substances used to treat any of these objects.
Determinations
The Bureau of Indian Affairs has determined that:
<bullet> The 195 sacred objects described in this notice are
specific objects needed by a traditional Native American religious
leader for present-day adherents to practice traditional Native
American religion, and have ongoing historical, traditional, or
cultural importance central to the Native American group, including any
constituent sub-group (such as a band, clan, lineage, ceremonial
society, or other subdivision).
<bullet> There is a connection between the cultural items described
in this notice and the Pueblo of Pojoaque, New Mexico.
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 28, 2025. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, the Bureau of Indian Affairs 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 Bureau of Indian Affairs 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: June 17, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-11946 Filed 6-26-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on June 27, 2025.
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