Notice2026-02699
Notice of Intended Repatriation: University of Denver Museum of Anthropology, Denver, CO
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
February 11, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Denver Museum of Anthropology (DUMA) 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 28 (Wednesday, February 11, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 28 (Wednesday, February 11, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6251-6252]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-02699]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6922; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041995; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: University of Denver Museum of
Anthropology, Denver, CO
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 Denver Museum of
Anthropology (DUMA) 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 March 13, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the
cultural items in this notice to Dena Sedar, University of Denver
Museum of Anthropology, 2000 E Asbury Avenue, Sturm Hall 146, Denver,
CO 80210, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#dcb8b9b2bdf2afb9b8bdae9cb8a9f2b9b8a9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d9bdbcb7b8f7aabcbdb8ab99bdacf7bcbdac">[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
DUMA, 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 12 cultural items have been requested for repatriation.
The eight sacred objects were acquired in southern Arizona by
Father James O'Brien and Colleen Anderson in the second half of the
20th century. Their collection was bequeathed to Lon D. Anderson, who
donated the cultural items to DUMA in 2019. The eight sacred objects
are four basketry trays (DU ID #2019.6.13, 2019.6.15, 2019.6.16,
2019.6.17), three basketry bowls (DU ID #2019.6.18, 2019.6.20,
2019.6.21), and one bolo tie (DU ID #2019.6.56).
The four objects of cultural patrimony are one ceramic bowl, two
ceramic jars, and one shell gaming piece. The ceramic bowl (DU
ID#2017.1.21) was collected by Allene and Charles Mueldener in the 20th
century and bequeathed to William Mueldener, who donated the cultural
item to DUMA in 2017. The two ceramic jars (DU ID #2019.6.44 and
2019.6.46) were acquired in southern Arizona by Father James O'Brien
and Colleen Anderson in the second half of the 20th century. Their
collection was bequeathed to Lon D. Anderson, who donated the cultural
items to DUMA in 2019. The one shell gaming piece (DU ID#3917B) came
into the possession of Fallis F. Rees at an unknown date from an
unknown location. In 1967, Mr. Rees donated this cultural item to DUMA.
Determinations
The DUMA has determined that:
<bullet> The eight sacred objects described in this notice are
specific ceremonial objects needed by a traditional Native American
religious leader for present-day adherents to practice traditional
[[Page 6252]]
Native American religion, according to the Native American traditional
knowledge of a lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian
organization.
<bullet> The four objects of cultural patrimony described in this
notice 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), according to the Native American traditional knowledge of
an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.
<bullet> There is a connection between the cultural items described
in this notice and the Gila River Indian Community of the Gila River
Indian Reservation, Arizona.
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 March 13, 2026. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, the DUMA 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 DUMA 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: February 4, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-02699 Filed 2-10-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on February 11, 2026.
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