Notice2026-01536
Notice of Intended Repatriation: University of Florida, Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, FL
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 27, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Florida, Florida Museum of Natural History (FLMNH) intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of unassociated funerary 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 91 Issue 17 (Tuesday, January 27, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 17 (Tuesday, January 27, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 3529]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-01536]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6888; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041886; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: University of Florida, Florida
Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, FL
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 Florida, Florida Museum of
Natural History (FLMNH) intends to repatriate certain cultural items
that meet the definition of unassociated funerary 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 February 26, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the
cultural items in this notice to David Blackburn, University of
Florida, Florida Museum of Natural History, 1659 Museum Road,
Gainesville, FL 32611, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cc82adabbcbead83aaaaa5afa98caaa0a3bea5a8ada1b9bfa9b9a1e2b9aaa0e2a9a8b9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8ac4ebedfaf8ebc5ecece3e9efcaece6e5f8e3eeebe7fff9efffe7a4ffece6a4efeeff">[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
FLMNH, 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 28 unassociated funerary items have been requested for
repatriation from an unnamed site in St. Lucie County, FL. The objects
include one check stamped pottery sherd, one bark-like pattern pottery
sherd, and 26 sand-tempered pottery sherds. The collection was
presented to the Florida Museum by J.D. Almond of Fort Pierce, Florida
on March 30, 1915. All objects were from a burial mound with Native
American graves in the grove of Mr. Almond, F.M. O'Byrne, and R.E.
Skinner. The grove is located at Ten Mile Creek. The graves were under
large oak and palmetto trees. Consultation determined the objects are
culturally affiliated to the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida,
the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, and the Seminole Tribe of Florida.
Determinations
The FLMNH has determined that:
<bullet> The 28 unassociated funerary objects described in this
notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with
or near human remains, and are connected, either at the time of death
or later as part of the death rite or ceremony of a Native American
culture according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a
lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization. The
unassociated funerary objects have been identified by a preponderance
of the evidence as related to human remains, specific individuals, or
families, or removed from a specific burial site or burial area of an
individual or individuals with cultural affiliation to an Indian Tribe
or Native Hawaiian organization.
<bullet> There is a connection between the cultural items described
in this notice and the Seminole Tribe of Florida.
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 26, 2026. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, the FLMNH 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 FLMNH 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 15, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-01536 Filed 1-26-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on January 27, 2026.
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