Notice2026-01668
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Indiana University, Bloomington, 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 28, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Indiana University 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 18 (Wednesday, January 28, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 18 (Wednesday, January 28, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3729-3730]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-01668]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6882; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041880; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Indiana University, Bloomington,
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), Indiana University 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.
[[Page 3730]]
DATES: Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on
or after February 27, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the
cultural items in this notice to Dr. Jayne-Leigh Thomas, Executive
Director, Indiana University, Student Building 318, 701 E Kirkwood
Avenue, Bloomington, IN 47405, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#92e6fafdfff3f8f3ebd2fbe7bcf7f6e7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b7c3dfd8dad6ddd6cef7dec299d2d3c2">[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
Indiana University 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 one ki[revaps]i akua and one lei niho
palaoa. The ki[revaps]iakua was purchased from Christie's of London in
1980. It has been suggested that this figure was acquired by Andrew
Bloxam of the HMS Blonde in 1825. This figure may have come from the
site of Hale-o-Keawe near Kona, or purchased in Oahu. The lei niho
palaoa was purchased in 1980 from Oceanie-Afrique Noire.
Determinations
Indiana University has determined that:
<bullet> The two sacred objects described in this notice are
specific ceremonial objects needed by a traditional Native Hawaiian
religious leader for present-day adherents to practice traditional
Native Hawaiian religion, according to the Native Hawaiian traditional
knowledge of a lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian
organization.
<bullet> There is a connection between the cultural items described
in this notice and the Native Hawaiian Organization 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 27, 2026. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, Indiana University 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. Indiana University 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. 2026-01668 Filed 1-27-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on January 28, 2026.
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