Notice2026-03568
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Illinois State Museum, Springfield, IL
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 Illinois State Museum intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of sacred objects and that have a cultural affiliation with the 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]
[Pages 8514-8515]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-03568]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6944; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042051; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Illinois State Museum,
Springfield, IL
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 Illinois State Museum intends to
repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of sacred
objects and that have a cultural affiliation with the 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 Brooke M. Morgan, Illinois State
Museum Research & Collections Center, 1011 East Ash Street,
Springfield, IL 62703, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#294b5b4646424c0744465b4e484769404545404746405a074e465f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5436263b3b3f317a393b2633353a143d38383d3a3b3d277a333b22">[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
Illinois State 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 four cultural items have been requested for
repatriation. The four sacred objects are three sections of kapa cloth
and one piece of cordage (kaula). These items were reportedly purchased
on the island of O[revaps]ahu in Ke Aupuni Hawai[revaps]i (the Hawaiian
Kingdom) in 1863 by Frank Rezor and donated to the
[[Page 8515]]
Illinois State Museum in 1890. To our knowledge, no hazardous
substances have been used to treat these objects.
Determinations
The Illinois State Museum 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 or Native Hawaiian organization.
<bullet> There is a reasonable 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 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 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 Illinois State Museum 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 Illinois State Museum is responsible for
sending a copy of this notice to the 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. 2026-03568 Filed 2-20-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on February 23, 2026.
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