Notice2025-18590
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]
[Page 46246]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-18590]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6539; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041126; 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#cbb8bfa4afafaab9bf8ba6b8bee5aeafbe"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3a494e555e5e5b484e7a57494f145f5e4f">[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 three cultural items have been requested for
repatriation. The three unassociated funerary objects are one silver
cross necklace (object 3391), one glazed clay pipe (object 2001.13.38),
and one funerary pot (object 2693.11). The cross and pipe were both
removed from funerary contexts in Allegan County, Michigan. The pot was
removed from somewhere in southern Michigan. Little is known about the
donors of the necklace and the pot. The pipe came from the Donald
Boudeman collection, an avocational collector whose collection was
donated to Michigan State University in 1961 by Donna Boudeman after
his passing. No known potentially hazardous substances are known to
treat any of the objects.
Determinations
Michigan State University has determined that:
<bullet> The three 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 Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of Pottawatomi
Indians of Michigan and the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians,
Michigan and Indiana.
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 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. 2025-18590 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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