Notice2026-05040
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, PA
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 Carnegie Museum of Natural History (CMNH) intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of sacred objects/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 50 (Monday, March 16, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 50 (Monday, March 16, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12618-12619]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-05040]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N6981; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042302; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Carnegie Museum of Natural
History, Pittsburgh, PA
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 Carnegie Museum of Natural History
(CMNH) intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the
definition of sacred objects/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 April 15, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the
cultural items in this notice to Amy Covell-Murthy, Carnegie Museum of
Natural History, 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2d4e425b4841414c6d4e4c5f43484a444840434503425f4a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f89b978e9d949499b89b998a969d9f919d959690d6978a9f">[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
CMNH, 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 12 sacred objects/objects of cultural patrimony are Kapa (three
Tapa cloths, accession numbers 1444, 6155-18, 6157), K[amacr]noa
([revaps]Awa Bowl accession number 9331-230), [revaps]Upena (Fish Net
accession number 9331-231), Lei (Necklace accession number 11578-990),
K[amacr] Wa[revaps]a (Canoe Bailer accession number 29455),
[revaps]Umeke L[amacr][revaps]au (two Wood Bowls accession numbers
2356-1, 2356-2), K[amacr]loa (Oval Wooden Platter accession number
2356-3), Lua[revaps]i Pele (Lava accession number 8793-3), and Lei Niho
Palaoa (Whale Tooth Pendant Necklace accession number 10616-1).These
objects were donated to CMNH by nine separate donors over seven
decades. All these items lack specific provenience, other than general
Hawai[revaps]ian origin. To the best of our knowledge, no hazardous
substances were used to treat the items.
Determinations
The CMNH has determined that:
<bullet> The 12 sacred objects/objects of cultural patrimony
described in this notice are, according to the Native American
traditional knowledge of an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian
organization, specific ceremonial objects needed by a traditional
Native American religious leader for present-day adherents to practice
traditional Native American religion, and have ongoing historical,
traditional, or cultural importance central to the Native American
group, including any constituent sub-group (such as a band,
[[Page 12619]]
clan, lineage, ceremonial society, or other subdivision).
<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 April 15, 2026. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, the CMNH 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 CMNH 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. 2026-05040 Filed 3-13-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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