Notice2026-00857
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield, MA
Primary source
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Published
January 16, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Berkshire Museum 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 91 Issue 11 (Friday, January 16, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 11 (Friday, January 16, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2142-2143]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-00857]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6867; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041855; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield, MA
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 Berkshire Museum 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 February 17, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the
cultural items in this notice to Jason Vivori, Berkshire Museum, 39
South Street,
[[Page 2143]]
Pittsfield, MA 01201, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#244e524d524b564d644641564f574c4d56414951574151490a4b5643"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a8c2dec1dec7dac1e8cacddac3dbc0c1dacdc5dddbcdddc586c7dacf">[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
Berkshire 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
The 50 sacred objects/objects of cultural patrimony are four
K[umacr]pe[revaps]e Niho [revaps]Ilio (Dog Tooth Leg Ornaments), five
[revaps]I[revaps]e K[umacr]k[umacr] (Kapa Beaters), 21 Kapa (Bark
Cloths), one [revaps]Umeke (Wood Bowls in 3 Large Pieces), three Moena
(Mats), one [revaps]Ohe K[amacr]pala (Kapa Stamp), two Hale (House)
Models of Thatched House, one [revaps]A[revaps]a (Lava sample in
fragments--Large Grey Piece, with five Small Black Glassy Pieces), one
P[umacr]niu (Knee Drum), one Puke Kapa (Kapa Book) Square Book Bound in
Folded Pieces of Kapa Cloth, one Ipu Pawehe (Decorated Water Gourd),
one P[omacr]haku Ku[revaps]i [revaps]Ai (Stone Food Pounder), one
Wa[revaps]a (Model Canoe), one [revaps]Umeke (Gourd Calabash), two
N[amacr] Hulu (Feathers--Brown Fragments from a cape of Kamehameha, as
well as Red, Yellow, and Black feather fragments from a bundle,
including Olon[amacr]), three P[amacr]pale (Hats) and one Kapa Dress.
Five items (1906.7.2,6a,6b,6c,18) were transferred to the Berkshire
Museum in 1906 from the Berkshire Athenaeum collection, having been
gifted to the Athenaeum in the 1870s from the collections of several
missionaries. Of note, 1906.7.18, a kapa fragment given by JEA Smith in
1871, is missing. However, it may be one of several Found in Collection
objects listed here. Additionally, C1988.7, a kapa tablecloth from the
collection of Mercy Patridge Whitney that was noted to be in poor
condition in a conservation report in 1989, is also missing. Three Kapa
cloths (1931.81.9,18,19) were given in 1931 by Mrs. George B.
Kirkbride, as part of a collection of twenty Polynesian objects. Four
items were given in 1932 (1932.41.1-3,5) by Mrs. Dwight M. Collins of
Pittsfield. This includes a Kapa cloth (1932.41.1), two Moena Mats
(1932.41.3,5), and an Umeke Bowl (1932.41.2). One Kapa cloth (1967.18)
was given by Mr. Edwin. E. Wood of Pittsfield. It was a given to Mrs.
Florence Wood in 1937 by her brother John Foster Wood. Six items were
given by Janice Greer in 1990 as part of a donation of ten items from
Dr. Charles H. Wetmore collection. Upon his arrival in 1849, Wetmore
served as a health officer for the Hawaiian Kingdom's Board of Health
and oversaw the United States Hospital for Seamen. All remaining items
have been listed as Found in Collection. The museum lacks sufficient
documentation regarding the acquisition of these items to establish
right of ownership or to establish lineal descent.
Determinations
The Berkshire Museum has determined that:
<bullet> The 50 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 Hui Iwi Kuamo[revaps]o.
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 February 17, 2026. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, the Berkshire 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 Berkshire 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.
Dated: January 9, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-00857 Filed 1-15-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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