Notice2025-23344
Notice of Intended Repatriation: James B. and Rosalyn L. Pick Museum of Anthropology at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL
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
December 19, 2025
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the James B. and Rosalyn L. Pick Museum of Anthropology at Northern Illinois University (Pick Museum) 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
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 242 (Friday, December 19, 2025)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 242 (Friday, December 19, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59571-59572]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-23344]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6771; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041538; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: James B. and Rosalyn L. Pick
Museum of Anthropology at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the James B. and Rosalyn L. Pick Museum of
Anthropology at Northern Illinois University (Pick Museum) 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 Margaret Alway, James B. and Rosalyn
L. Pick Museum of Anthropology at Northern Illinois University, 1425 W
Lincoln Hwy., DeKalb, IL 60015, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#fe939f92899f87be90978bd09b9a8b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0c616d607b6d754c62657922696879">[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
Pick Museum, 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/objects of cultural patrimony are medicine
bundles (catalog nos. 72-11-2 to 72-11-13), known as jish, and a shield
(catalog no. 69-35-24). The shield was purchased in 1969 by staff of
the Pick Museum from Don Watson's Indian Trading Post in Cortez,
Colorado. The medicine bundles were purchased by staff of the Pick
Museum in 1972 from Littrell's Kiva Trading Post in Aztec, New Mexico.
The Pick Museum recorded the items as Navajo.
Determinations
The Pick Museum has determined that:
<bullet> The 13 sacred objects/objects of cultural patrimony
described in this notice are, according to the Native American
traditional knowledge of an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian
organization, specific ceremonial objects needed by a traditional
Native American religious leader for present-day adherents to practice
traditional Native American religion, and 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).
<bullet> There is a connection between the cultural items described
in this notice and the Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico, & Utah.
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 20, 2026. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, the Pick Museum 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 Pick Museum 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.
[[Page 59572]]
Dated: December 4, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-23344 Filed 12-18-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on December 19, 2025.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.