Notice2025-15974
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Old Dartmouth Historical Society, d.b.a. New Bedford Whaling Museum, New Bedford, MA
Primary source
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Published
August 21, 2025
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Old Dartmouth Historical Society, d.b.a. New Bedford Whaling Museum (NBWM) intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of sacred 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 160 (Thursday, August 21, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 160 (Thursday, August 21, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40850-40851]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-15974]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6443; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0040853; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Old Dartmouth Historical
Society, d.b.a. New Bedford Whaling Museum, New Bedford, MA
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 Old Dartmouth Historical Society, d.b.a.
New Bedford Whaling Museum (NBWM) intends to repatriate certain
cultural items that meet the definition of sacred 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 September 22, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the
cultural items in this notice to Naomi Slipp, The Old Dartmouth
Historical Society, d.b.a. The New Bedford Whaling Museum, 18 Johnny
Cake Hill, New Bedford, MA 02740, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bcd2cfd0d5ccccfccbd4ddd0d5d2dbd1c9cfd9c9d192d3cedb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f39d809f9a8383b3849b929f9a9d949e868096869edd9c8194">[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
NBWM, 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 three cultural items have been requested for
repatriation. The three sacred objects are one adz (1992.24.12.), one
boar tusk bracelet
[[Page 40851]]
(2001.100.1349), and one necklace (2001.100.1926). The sacred objects
were removed from Hawai`i. The adz (1922.24.12) was accessioned in 1922
as a gift from Dr. Winslow. The bracelet and necklace (2001.100.1349
and 2001.100.1926) were previously part of the Kendall Whaling Museum
collection and became part of NBWM's collections following the
institutional merger in 2001. The NBWM has no knowledge of any
potentially hazardous substances used to treat the sacred objects.
Determinations
The NBWM has determined that:
<bullet> The three 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> There is a reasonable connection between the cultural
items described in this notice and the Hui Iwi Kuamo`o.
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 22, 2025. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, the NBWM 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 NBWM 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 6, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-15974 Filed 8-20-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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