Notice2026-01541
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Indianapolis Museum of Art, Inc. D.B.A. Newfields, Indianapolis, IN
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 Indianapolis Museum of Art, Inc. D.B.A. Newfields 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 91 Issue 17 (Tuesday, January 27, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 17 (Tuesday, January 27, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3532-3533]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-01541]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6893; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041891; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Indianapolis Museum of Art, Inc.
D.B.A. Newfields, Indianapolis, IN
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 Indianapolis Museum of Art, Inc. D.B.A.
Newfields 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 February 26, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the
cultural items in this notice to Jennifer Gallatin Rigsby, Indianapolis
Museum of Art, Inc. D.B.A. Newfields, 4000 Michigan Road, Indianapolis,
IN 46208, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9ef4ecf7f9edfce7defaf7edfdf1e8fbecf0fbe9f8f7fbf2faedb0f1ecf9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4f253d26283c2d360f2b263c2c20392a3d212a3829262a232b3c61203d28">[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
Indianapolis Museum of Art, Inc. D.B.A. Newfields, 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 two cultural items have been requested for repatriation.
The two sacred objects are `umele' or wood bowls. Both bowls were
obtained by Vice Admiral Albery Parker Niblack who served in the United
States Navy for 47 years in many different capacities: explorer,
scientist, Naval Attach[eacute] to various European and South American
countries, sea commander, and as post-WWI Director of Naval
Intelligence. It is unknown when he obtained them, they were passed
down to his wife, Mary Augusta Niblack and his sister, Eliza Maria
Niblack, who donated them to the museum in 1930 and 1948.
Determinations
The Indianapolis Museum of Art, Inc. D.B.A. Newfields, has
determined that:
<bullet> The two sacred objects 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). These
two wood bowls are needed by a traditional religious leader for
present-day adherents to renew the traditional Native Hawaiian
religious ceremony of `ike p[amacr]p[amacr]lua', which involves
spiritual communication with their ancestors.
<bullet> There is a connection between the cultural items described
in this notice and the 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 26, 2026. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, the Indianapolis Museum of Art, Inc. D.B.A.
Newfields, 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
Indianapolis Museum of Art, Inc. D.B.A. Newfields is responsible for
sending a copy of this
[[Page 3533]]
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. 2026-01541 Filed 1-26-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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