Notice2025-22926
Notice of Intended Repatriation: University of Denver Museum of Anthropology, Denver, CO
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 University of Denver Museum of Anthropology intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects, sacred objects, and/or objects of cultural patrimony 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]
[Pages 58292-58293]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-22926]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6651; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041384; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: University of Denver Museum of
Anthropology, Denver, CO
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 University of Denver Museum of
Anthropology intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the
definition of unassociated funerary objects, sacred objects, and/or
objects of cultural patrimony 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 Dena Sedar, University of Denver
Museum of
[[Page 58293]]
Anthropology, 2000 E Asbury Avenue, Sturm Hall 146, Denver, CO 80210,
email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c7a3a2a9a6e9b4a2a3a6b587a3b2e9a2a3b2"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="cca8a9a2ade2bfa9a8adbe8ca8b9e2a9a8b9">[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
University of Denver Museum of Anthropology (DUMA), 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 four cultural items have been requested for
repatriation. The two sacred objects are one basketry tray (DU ID#
2019.6.14) and one basketry bowl (DU ID# 2019.6.19) acquired in
southern Arizona by Father James O'Brien and Colleen Anderson in 1979.
The O'Brien and Anderson collection was bequeathed to Lon D. Anderson,
who donated the collection to DUMA in 2019.
The two objects of cultural patrimony are ceramic bowls (DU ID#
2017.1.22 and 2017.1.25) acquired by Allene and Charles Mueldener in
the 20th century and bequeathed to William Mueldener, who donated the
collection to DUMA in 2017.
Determinations
The DUMA has determined that:
<bullet> The two 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> The two objects of cultural patrimony described in this
notice have ongoing historical, traditional, or cultural importance
central to the Native American group, including any constituent sub-
group (such as a band, clan, lineage, ceremonial society, or other
subdivision), according to the Native American traditional knowledge of
an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.
<bullet> There is a reasonable connection between the cultural
items described in this notice and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian
Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona.
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 DUMA 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 DUMA 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 20, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-22926 Filed 12-15-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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