Notice2026-02709
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Cincinnati Museum Center, Cincinnati, OH
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 Cincinnati Museum Center intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of 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 6263-6264]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-02709]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6916; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041989; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Cincinnati Museum Center,
Cincinnati, OH
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 Cincinnati Museum Center intends to
repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of 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 Tyler Swinney, Cincinnati Museum
Center, 1301 Western Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45203, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5d292e2a34333338241d3e34333e2430282e38283073322f3a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="fb8f888c9295959e82bb9892959882968e889e8e96d594899c">[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
Cincinnati Museum Center, 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 six cultural items have been requested for repatriation.
The six objects of cultural patrimony are five pair of beaded moccasins
and one beaded jacket. The moccasins were donated to the museum by Mary
L. Melvin and E.V. Clarke and were accessioned in 1993. The jacket was
donated to the museum by Mrs. Frederick Shaffer and was accessioned in
1961. The Cincinnati Museum Center has no records indicating that these
cultural items were exposed to any hazardous substances while in the
stewardship of the Museum.
Through consultation, it has been determined that floral beadwork
designs are characteristic of the `Santee Floral' style and date to
between ca. 1860 and 1900. Santee Floral is a common clothing
decoration for the Mdewakanton and is central to the ongoing cultural
identity of the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe.
Determinations
The Cincinnati Museum Center has determined that:
<bullet> The six 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 Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe of South Dakota.
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
[[Page 6264]]
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 Cincinnati Museum Center 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 Cincinnati Museum Center 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. 2026-02709 Filed 2-10-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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