Notice2025-18589
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Michigan State University, East Lansing, 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
September 25, 2025
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Michigan State University 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 184 (Thursday, September 25, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 184 (Thursday, September 25, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46238-46239]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-18589]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6535; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041125; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Michigan State University, East
Lansing, 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), Michigan State University 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 October 27, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the
cultural items in this notice to Judith Stoddart, Michigan State
University, 287 Delta Court, East Lansing, MI 48824, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3e4d4a515a5a5f4c4a7e534d4b105b5a4b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b2c1c6ddd6d6d3c0c6f2dfc1c79cd7d6c7">[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
Michigan State University, 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 13 cultural items have been requested for repatriation.
The 13 unassociated funerary objects are one lot of animal bone from
the Sebewaing site, eight silver crosses from Lake Lansing Mound, one
lot of ceramic sherds from 20SA118, one lot (accession 1001) of animal
bone, one pipe stem, and one silver brooch from 20IN39.
All unassociated funerary objects were removed from Huron, Ingham,
and Saginaw Counties, Michigan. All were donated to Michigan State
University in the 1950s or at an unknown time. No known hazardous
substances have been used to treat the objects.
Determinations
Michigan State University has determined that:
<bullet> The 13 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 reasonable connection between the cultural
items described in this notice and the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of
Michigan.
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
[[Page 46239]]
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 October 27, 2025. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, Michigan State University 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. Michigan State University 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: September 11, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-18589 Filed 9-24-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 25, 2025.
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