Notice2026-00674
Notice of Inventory Completion: Museum of the Cherokee People, Cherokee, NC
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
January 15, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Museum of the Cherokee People (MotCP) has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 10 (Thursday, January 15, 2026)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 10 (Thursday, January 15, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1801-1802]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-00674]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6866; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041844; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: Museum of the Cherokee People,
Cherokee, NC
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Museum of the Cherokee People (MotCP)
has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary
objects and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between
the human remains and associated funerary objects and Indian Tribes or
Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
DATES: Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary
objects in this notice may occur on or after February 17, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains
and associated funerary objects in this notice to Evan Mathis, Museum
of the Cherokee People, P.O. Box 1599, 589 Tsali Blvd., Cherokee, NC
28719, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#abceddcac585c6cadfc3c2d8ebc6c4dfc8db85c4d9cc"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="442132252a6a2925302c2d3704292b3027346a2b3623">[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
Museum of the Cherokee People, and additional information on the
determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation,
can be found in its inventory or related records. The National Park
Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.
Abstract of Information Available
Human ancestral remains representing, at least, two individuals
have been identified from a comingled collection representing 40HW15,
the Holston site; 40GN6, the Ebenezer site; and 40MR21, the Harrison
Branch site. The two lots of associated funerary objects (consisting of
30 objects) are present. The one lot of associated funerary objects
(consisting of 27 objects) are present with one ancestor, and one lot
of associated funerary objects (consisting of three objects) are
present with the other ancestor. The Holston site is situated on the
Holston River in Hawkins County, Tennessee. The Ebenezer site is
situated near the Nolichucky River in Greene County, Tennessee. The
Harrison Branch site is situated on Harrison Branch in Monroe County,
Tennessee. After completing the consultation process with federally
recognized Tribal Nations, this site is culturally affiliated with the
Cherokee Nation, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and the United
Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians. It is unknown when or by whom the
individuals and their associated funerary objects were removed. It is
also unknown when the individuals and their associated funerary objects
were transferred to the Museum of the Cherokee People, where they have
been housed since that time. To our knowledge, no hazardous substances
[[Page 1802]]
were used to treat any of the human ancestral remains.
Human ancestral remains representing, at least, one individual has
been identified from an unknown archaeological site, accessioned as
3737/72. The one lot of funerary objects was commingled with this
individual, (including three bone awls). After completing the
consultation process with federally recognized Tribal Nations, this
site is culturally affiliated with the Cherokee Nation, the Eastern
Band of Cherokee Indians, and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee
Indians. It is unknown when or by whom the individuals were removed,
but the accession number indicates they were likely transferred to the
Museum of the Cherokee People prior to 1958, where they have been
housed since that time. To our knowledge, no hazardous substances were
used to treat any of the human ancestral remains.
Human ancestral remains representing, at least, one individual has
been identified from an unknown archaeological site, accessioned as
2593/72. The one lot of funerary objects was commingled with this
individual, (including one lot of bone awls). After completing the
consultation process with federally recognized Tribal Nations, this
site is culturally affiliated with the Cherokee Nation, the Eastern
Band of Cherokee Indians, and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee
Indians. It is unknown when or by whom the individuals were removed,
but the accession number indicates they were likely transferred to the
Museum of the Cherokee People prior to 1958, where they have been
housed since that time. To our knowledge, no hazardous substances were
used to treat any of the human ancestral remains.
Cultural Affiliation
Based on the information available and the results of consultation,
cultural affiliation is clearly identified by the information available
about the human remains and associated funerary objects described in
this notice.
Determinations
The Museum of the Cherokee People has determined that:
<bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the
physical remains of four individuals of Native American ancestry.
<bullet> The four lots of objects described in this notice are
reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with or near
individual human remains at the time of death or later as part of the
death rite or ceremony.
<bullet> There is a connection between the human remains and
associated funerary objects described in this notice and the Cherokee
Nation; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; and the United Keetoowah Band
of Cherokee Indians of Oklahoma.
Requests for Repatriation
Written requests for repatriation of the human remains and
associated funerary objects in this notice must be sent to the
authorized representative identified in this notice under ADDRESSES.
Requests for repatriation may be submitted by:
1. Any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian
organizations identified in this notice.
2. 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 an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization with
cultural affiliation.
Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects
described in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after February
17, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the
Museum of the Cherokee People must determine the most appropriate
requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the
human remains and associated funerary objects are considered a single
request and not competing requests. The Museum of the Cherokee People
is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes
and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice and any
other consulting parties.
Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act,
25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.10.
Dated: January 9, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-00674 Filed 1-14-26; 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 January 15, 2026.
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.