Notice2025-15849
Notice of Intended Repatriation: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
August 20, 2025
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Michigan intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects 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 159 (Wednesday, August 20, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 159 (Wednesday, August 20, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40642-40643]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-15849]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6425; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0040832; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: University of Michigan, Ann
Arbor, MI
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 University of Michigan intends to
repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of
unassociated funerary objects 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 September 19, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the
cultural items in this notice to Dr. Ben Secunda, NAGPRA Office
Managing Director, University of Michigan, Office of Research, Suite
G269, Lane Hall, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1274, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4022332523352e242100352d2923286e252435"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a1c3d2c4c2d4cfc5c0e1d4ccc8c2c98fc4c5d4">[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
University of Michigan, 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 10 cultural items have been requested for repatriation.
The 10 unassociated funerary objects is one lot of a groundstone celt,
one lot of modified shells; one lot of modified shell with possible
copper staining; one lot of modified shell, possible weight; one lot of
modified and possibly unmodified clam shell fragments; one lot of
possible hammerstone/cobble; one lot of earthenware body sherds; one
lot of possibly unworked fish bone fragments; one lot of modified
gastropod Columellae shell central spiral fragments; and one lot of
modified gastropod Columellae shell central spiral fragment.
In February of 1946, nine lots of cultural items were removed from
the Goodland Point site (8CR45, 8CR 46), Collier Co., FL. The cultural
items were removed from the site by Violet K. Hanley and donated to the
University of Michigan Museum of Anthropological Archaeology in 1950.
On an unknown date prior to 1915, one lot of cultural items were
removed from the Deep Creek site, St. Johns Co., FL. The cultural item
was donated to the University of Michigan Museum of Anthropological
Archaeology by David DePue.
The University of Michigan has no record of, nor do its officials
have any knowledge of, any treatment of items with pesticides,
preservatives, or other substances that represent a potential hazard to
the collection(s) or to persons handling the collection(s).
Determinations
The University of Michigan has determined that:
<bullet> The 10 unassociated funerary objects described in this
notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with
or near human remains (hereinafter referred to as ``Ancestral
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
[[Page 40643]]
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 Ancestral 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 Miccosukee Tribe of Indians; Seminole Tribe of
Florida; and The Seminole Nation of 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 September 19, 2025. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, the University of Michigan 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 University of Michigan 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: August 5, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-15849 Filed 8-19-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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