Notice2026-03566
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology, Brown University, Bristol, RI
Primary source
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Published
February 23, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology, Brown University (HMA) 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 35 (Monday, February 23, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 35 (Monday, February 23, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 8507]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-03566]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6942; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042049; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Haffenreffer Museum of
Anthropology, Brown University, Bristol, RI
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 Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology,
Brown University (HMA) 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 March 25, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the
cultural items in this notice to Kellie Bowers, Brown University,
Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology, 300 Tower Street, Bristol, RI
02809, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a9c2ccc5c5c0ccf6cbc6deccdbdae9cbdbc6dec787cccddc"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="49222c2525202c162b263e2c3b3a092b3b263e27672c2d3c">[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
HMA, 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 four cultural items have been requested for
repatriation. The four sacred objects are one tapa (or kapa), or
textile (83-141a-b), one fishhook (61-472), one stone adze (68-10003),
and one plaster cast of a god stick (60-4607). The tapa (or kapa), or
textile (83-141a-b) is made of pounded bark. It was collected by Dr.
W.M. Wood, U.S.N. in Hawaii in 1939. It was originally donated to the
Smithsonian and was subsequently donated sometime in the 19th century
to the Jenks Museum of Natural History (Jenks Museum) at Brown
University. The fishhook (61-472) is made of bone and dates to the 19th
century. It was carved in two parts and lashed together with olona
plant fiber. Provenance for this item is unknown. The adze (68-10003)
is a chipped and ground basalt blade. It was originally donated to the
Jenks Museum by Jas. A. Law in the 19th century. The plaster cast of a
god stick (60-4607) was a gift from the Roger Williams Museum Park
Museum of Natural History. All items were removed from Hawaii. The HMA
is unaware of any treatment of these items with hazardous substances.
Determinations
The HMA has determined that:
<bullet> The four 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
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 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 March 25, 2026. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, the HMA 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 HMA 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 13, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-03566 Filed 2-20-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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