Notice2026-01543
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Castine Scientific Society D.B.A. Wilson Museum, Castine, ME
Primary source
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Published
January 27, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Wilson Museum intends to repatriate a certain cultural item that meets the definition of a sacred objects and that has 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 3531]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-01543]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6896; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041893; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Castine Scientific Society
D.B.A. Wilson Museum, Castine, ME
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 Wilson Museum intends to repatriate a
certain cultural item that meets the definition of a sacred objects and
that has a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native
Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
DATES: Repatriation of the cultural item in this notice may occur on or
after February 26, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the
cultural item in this notice to Abby Dunham, Wilson Museum, P.O. Box
196, 120 Perkins Street, Castine, ME 04421, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#85f7e0f5e4f1f7ece4f1eceaebc5f2ece9f6eaebe8f0f6e0f0e8abeaf7e2"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="97e5f2e7f6e3e5fef6e3fef8f9d7e0fefbe4f8f9fae2e4f2e2fab9f8e5f0">[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
Wilson 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 one cultural item has been requested for repatriation
consisting of one sacred object.
The one sacred object is a wooden medicine man's mask from the
North Pacific Coast, acquired at an unknown point by Anton Heitmuller,
purchased from the Heitmuller Art Company by or for the Wilson Museum
in 1926.
Determinations
The Wilson Museum has determined that:
<bullet> The one sacred object described in this notice is a
specific ceremonial object needed by a traditional Native American
religious leader for present-day adherents to practice traditional
Native American religion, according to the Native American traditional
knowledge of a lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian
organization.
<bullet> There is a connection between the cultural item described
in this notice and the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe.
Requests for Repatriation
Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural item
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 item in this notice to a requestor may
occur on or after February 26, 2026. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, the Wilson Museum must determine the most
appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint
repatriation of the cultural item are considered a single request and
not competing requests. The Wilson 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 15, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-01543 Filed 1-26-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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