Notice2025-23198
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK
Primary source
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Published
December 18, 2025
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History (SNOMNH) intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of sacred 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 241 (Thursday, December 18, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 241 (Thursday, December 18, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59188-59189]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-23198]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6756; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041519; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of
Natural History, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK
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 Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural
History (SNOMNH) intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet
the definition of sacred 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 20, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the
cultural items in this notice to Zachary Garrett, NAGPRA Program
Coordinator, Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, University
of Oklahoma, 2401 Chautauqua Avenue, Norman, OK 73072-7029, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5f253e3c383e2d2d3a2b2b1f302a713a3b2a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a4dec5c7c3c5d6d6c1d0d0e4cbd18ac1c0d1">[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
SNOMNH, 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 sacred objects are prayer offerings. These objects were removed
from a shrine site, likely LA 46316, in Valencia County, NM. The site
is located on land owned by the Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico. These
objects were removed from the site by Harmon Maxon (a University of New
Mexico student) of Santa Fe, who later gave them to a University of
Oklahoma professor, who in turn donated them to SNOMNH. Official
representatives of the Pueblo of Acoma and Pueblo of Laguna reviewed
these objects in person and identified and confirmed that they are
sacred objects and culturally affiliated with the Pueblo of Acoma and
Pueblo of Laguna.
In the past, hazardous substances were used to treat the Ethnology
Collection at SNOMNH. The Ethnology Collection in part or whole was
exposed to Paradichlorobenzene (PBD in textile storage-discontinued
around or before 1981), Naphthalene (moth flake packets stored with
textiles-discontinued around 1985), and Vapona (no-pest-strips (active
ingredient: Dichlorvos DDVP) and pyrethrins, placed in cases with
objects, discontinued around 1986). None of these products were ever in
direct contact with objects. Any potential treatments of these objects
by donors are unknown. The building where the Ethnology collection was
previously stored was subject to fumigation multiple times per year
from 1983-1985, using Vapo-Mist 500, 5% Vapona Insecticide (active
ingredient was dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate (DDVP), and also
contained petroleum distillates and 1,1,1-trichloethane). Chemical
remnants may have remained present in objects, as well as museum
cabinets and other furniture used to store collections.
Determinations
SNOMNH has determined that:
<bullet> The 13 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> There is a connection between the cultural items described
in this notice and the Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico and the Pueblo of
Laguna, New Mexico.
Requests for Repatriation
Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items
in this
[[Page 59189]]
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 20, 2026. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, SNOMNH 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. SNOMNH 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: December 3, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-23198 Filed 12-17-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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