Notice2026-05033
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK
Primary source
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Published
March 16, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History (SNOMNH) 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 50 (Monday, March 16, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 50 (Monday, March 16, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 12612]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-05033]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6973; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042294; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of
Natural History, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK
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 Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural
History (SNOMNH) 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 April 15, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the
cultural items in this notice to Chelsea Rose, Sam Noble Oklahoma
Museum of Natural History, 2401 Chautauqua Avenue, Norman, OK 73072-
7029, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2d6e4548415e484c037f425e486d425803484958"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8dcee5e8e1fee8eca3dfe2fee8cde2f8a3e8e9f8">[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
SNOMNH, 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 two carved Sun Dance pegs
(NAM 09-06-248, NAM 09-06-249), one medicine bag (and contents) (NAM
09-06-228a-g), and one additional medicine bag (NAM 09-06-330). Both
carved Sun Dance pegs were likely collected by W.S. Campbell/Stanley
Vestal and donated by his family to the museum. One medicine bag (NAM
09-06-228a-g) was part of a collection of objects acquired by William
H. Munger during his residence at Watonga, OK, as a merchant. Mr.
Munger moved into Cheyenne and Arapaho country in 1892 and opened a
store. Mr. Munger passed away in 1926, and in 1947 his collection
including this medicine bag was donated to the SNOMNH. There are no
records of how these donors came into possession of these objects;
therefore, it is not possible to confirm the objects were obtained with
the voluntary consent of a person or group with the authority to
alienate these objects. One additional medicine bag (NAM 09-06-330) was
donated to the museum in 1988. The donor received the bag from a
Cheyenne individual, but SNOMNH has no documentation that this
individual had authority to alienate the object. As such, the museum
does not have a clear right of possession to this object.
In the past, hazardous substances were used to treat the Ethnology
Collection at SNOMNH. The Ethnology Collection in part or whole was
exposed to Paradichlorobenzene (PBD in textile storage-discontinued
around or before 1981), Naphthalene (moth flake packets stored with
textiles-discontinued around 1985), and Vapona (no-pest-strips (active
ingredient: Dichlorvos DDVP) and pyrethrins, placed in cases with
objects, discontinued around 1986). None of these products were ever in
direct contact with objects. Any potential treatments of these objects
by donors are unknown.
The building where the Ethnology collection was previously stored
was subject to fumigation multiple times per year from 1983-1985, using
Vapo-Mist 500, 5% Vapona Insecticide (active ingredient was
dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate (DDVP), and also contained petroleum
distillates and 1,1,1-trichloethane). Chemical remnants may have
remained present in objects, as well as museum cabinets and other
furniture used to store collections.
Determinations
The SNOMNH 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 Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, Oklahoma.
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 April 15, 2026. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, the Sam Noble Museum of Natural History 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 SNOMNH 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: March 5, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-05033 Filed 3-13-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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