Notice2025-19953
Notice of Intended Repatriation: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Chaco Culture National Historical Park, Nageezi, NM
Primary source
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Published
November 17, 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, National Park Service, Chaco Culture National Historical Park (CHCU) intends to repatriate a certain cultural item that meets the definition of a sacred object and that has 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 219 (Monday, November 17, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 219 (Monday, November 17, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51399-51400]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-19953]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6592; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041197; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: U.S. Department of the Interior,
National Park Service, Chaco Culture National Historical Park, Nageezi,
NM
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 U.S. Department of the Interior,
National Park Service, Chaco Culture National Historical Park (CHCU)
intends to repatriate a certain cultural item that meets the definition
of a sacred object and that has a cultural affiliation with the Indian
Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
DATES: Repatriation of the cultural item in this notice may occur on or
after December 17, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the
cultural item in this notice to Denise Robertson, Superintendent, Chaco
Culture National Historical Park, P.O. Box 220, 1808 CR7950, Nageezi,
NM 87037, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3155545f5842546e435e53544345425e5f715f41421f565e47"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e084858e899385bf928f82859294938f8ea08e9093ce878f96">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is published as part of the
[[Page 51400]]
National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA.
The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the
Superintendent, CHCU, and additional information on the determinations
in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in
the summary or related records.
Abstract of Information Available
A total of one cultural item has been requested for repatriation.
The one sacred object is a quartz crystal. The large quartz crystal was
discovered by park preservation staff during inspection of backfill and
drainage at the site known as Talus Unit 1 (LA2470, also known as Bc
257 or 29SJ1930). Based on frequent staff activity in the area, the
crystal was likely placed in the room between November 28, 2012 and
December 3, 2012. The item was removed from the location of its
discovery on December 3, 2012 but was not recognized as an item of
importance to descendant communities at the time. It is not believed
that the crystal originated within CHCU boundaries from either
geological or archeological deposits. The item was identified as a
sacred object to the Pueblo of San Felipe during a visit by tribal
officials to the museum repository. The cultural item listed is not
known to have been treated with a hazardous substance.
Determinations
CHCU has determined that:
<bullet> The one sacred object described in this notice is a
specific ceremonial object 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 item
described in this notice and the Pueblo of San Felipe, New Mexico.
Requests for Repatriation
Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural item
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 item in this notice to a requestor may
occur on or after December 17, 2025. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, CHCU must determine the most appropriate
requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the
cultural item are considered a single request and not competing
requests. CHCU 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 18, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-19953 Filed 11-14-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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