Notice2026-05048

Notice of Intended Repatriation: Stanford University, Stanford, CA

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
March 16, 2026

Issuing agencies

Interior DepartmentNational Park Service

Abstract

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Stanford University intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of unassociated funerary 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]
[Pages 12611-12612]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-05048]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[N6989; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042310; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intended Repatriation: Stanford University, Stanford, 
CA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and 
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Stanford University intends to repatriate 
certain cultural items that meet the definition of unassociated 
funerary 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 Laura Jones, Repatriation Officer, 
Stanford University, 477 Oak Road, Stanford CA 94305, email 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4f3d2a3f2e3b3d262e3b2620210f3c3b2e2129203d2b612a2b3a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1c6e796c7d686e757d687573725c6f687d727a736e7832797869">[email&#160;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 
Stanford University, 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 one cultural items have been requested for repatriation. 
The one unassociated funerary objects is a string of stone beads noted 
as `cremation beads' originating in Placerville, CA. The beads were 
acquired by J.H. Hecht from R.L. Cass in January 1946. Stanford has no 
knowledge of any potentially hazardous substances used to treat any of 
the cultural items.

Determinations

    Stanford University has determined that:
    <bullet> The one unassociated funerary object described in this 
notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with 
or near human remains, and are connected, either at the time of death 
or later as part of the death rite or ceremony of a Native American 
culture according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a 
lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization. The 
unassociated funerary object has been identified by a preponderance of 
the evidence as related to human remains, specific individuals, or 
families, or removed from a specific burial site or burial area of an 
individual or individuals with cultural affiliation to an Indian Tribe 
or Native Hawaiian organization.
    <bullet> There is a connection between the cultural items described 
in this notice and the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, Shingle 
Springs Rancheria (Verona Tract), California.

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

[[Page 12612]]

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 Stanford University 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 Stanford University 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. 2026-05048 Filed 3-13-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P


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Indexed from Federal Register on March 16, 2026.

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