Notice2025-22904
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Indianapolis Museum of Art, Inc. D.B.A. Newfields, Indianapolis, IN
Primary source
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Published
December 16, 2025
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Indianapolis Museum of Art, Inc. D.B.A. Newfields 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 239 (Tuesday, December 16, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 239 (Tuesday, December 16, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Page 58288]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-22904]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6634; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041360; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Indianapolis Museum of Art, Inc.
D.B.A. Newfields, Indianapolis, IN
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 Indianapolis Museum of Art, Inc. D.B.A.
Newfields 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 January 15, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the
cultural items in this notice to Jennifer Gallatin Rigsby, Indianapolis
Museum of Art, Inc. D.B.A. Newfields, 4000 Michigan Road, Indianapolis,
IN 46208-3326, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#49233b202e3a2b30092d203a2a263f2c3b272c3e2f202c252d3a67263b2e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5b3129323c2839221b3f322838342d3e29353e2c3d323e373f287534293c">[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
Indianapolis Museum of Art, Inc. D.B.A. Newfields, 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 18 cultural items have been requested for repatriation.
The 18 unassociated funerary objects are pipes, bannerstone, gorget,
stone tools, and projectile points. One of the unassociated funerary
object, a shell gorget, was excavated from Hamilton County, Tennessee.
One of the unassociated funerary object, a circular shell gorget with
scalloped edges, was excavated from Meigs County, Tennessee. One of the
unassociated funerary object, a pipe bowl with human face and otter
figure, was excavated from Sullivan County, Tennessee. Eleven of the
unassociated funerary objects, projectile points, was excavated from
Tennessee and Marion County, Kentucky. One of the unassociated funerary
objects, a platform pipe, was excavated from Mason County, Kentucky.
One of the unassociated funerary objects, a elbow pipe, was excavated
from, Etowah County, Alabama. One of the unassociated funerary objects,
a elbow pipe, was excavated from Tennessee. One of the unassociated
funerary objects, a bannerstone, was excavated from Kentucky.
Determinations
The Indianapolis Museum of Art, Inc. D.B.A. Newfields has
determined that:
<bullet> The 18 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 Cherokee Nation; Eastern Band of Cherokee
Indians; and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in 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 January 15, 2026. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, the Indianapolis Museum of Art, Inc. D.B.A.
Newfields 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
Indianapolis Museum of Art, Inc. D.B.A. Newfields 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: November 25, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-22904 Filed 12-15-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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