Notice2026-05381
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Providence, RI
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 19, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium 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 53 (Thursday, March 19, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 53 (Thursday, March 19, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13325-13326]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-05381]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N7002; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042356; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Museum of Natural History and
Planetarium, Providence, 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 Museum of Natural History and
Planetarium 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 20, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the
cultural
[[Page 13326]]
items in this notice to Matthew Becker, Curator of Collections, Museum
of Natural History and Planetarium, 1000 Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI
02907, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#8de0efe8eee6e8ffcdfdffe2fbe4e9e8e3eee8ffe4a3eae2fb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="09646b6c6a626c7b49797b667f606d6c676a6c7b60276e667f">[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
Museum of Natural History and Planetarium 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 28 cultural items have been requested for repatriation.
The 28 cultural items include a collection of tapa cloths and tapa
decorating tools, fish hooks and lines, stone pounders, small
figurines, a ukulele, a fan, a wooden spear, a bowl, and a necklace.
The 28 items were donated between 1909 and 1956. The majority of the
items, particularly the tapa cloths and tapa decorating tools, were
received during the 1950s from Brown University and the Bishop Museum
as gifts or as part of exchange. The remaining items fall into two
camps: either they were singular items donated by individual collectors
residing in Rhode Island, or they lack donor data entirely and are
listed as ``Donor Unknown.'' All items are listed as being from Hawaii.
Determinations
The Museum of Natural History and Planetarium has determined that:
<bullet> The 28 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'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 20, 2026. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, the Museum of Natural History and
Planetarium 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 Museum of
Natural History and Planetarium 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 11, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-05381 Filed 3-18-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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