Notice2026-05966
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Jefferson City, MO
Primary source
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Published
March 27, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MoDNR) 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 59 (Friday, March 27, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 59 (Friday, March 27, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 14873]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-05966]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N7026; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042484; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Missouri Department of Natural
Resources, Jefferson City, MO
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 Missouri Department of Natural Resources
(MoDNR) 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 27, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the
cultural items in this notice to Caroline Crecelius, Repatriation
Coordinator for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, 1659 E
Elm St., Jefferson City, MO 65101, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3a595b48555653545f1459485f595f56534f497a5e5448145755145d554c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="701311021f1c191e155e13021513151c19050330141e025e1d1f5e171f06">[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
Missouri Department of Natural Resources 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 235 cultural items have been requested for repatriation.
The 235 sacred objects/objects of cultural patrimony include projectile
points to blankets, bags, tools, photographs, jewelry, clothing and
regalia, many of which are intricately beaded and/or woven. This
collection was gifted by Ms. Owen to the museum in 1929. Through
research of her published work, ``Folklore of the Musquakie Indians of
North America, And Catalogue of Musquakie Beadwork and Other Objects in
the Collection of the Folklore Society (1904),'' along with review of
her unpublished field notes, it has been determined that the most
likely origin of these belongings is the Sac & Fox Tribe of the
Mississippi in Iowa in Tama, IA.
Determinations
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has determined that:
<bullet> The 235 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, clan,
lineage, ceremonial society, or other subdivision).
<bullet> There is a connection between the cultural items described
in this notice and the Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa.
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 27, 2026. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources
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 Missouri Department of
Natural Resources 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 20, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-05966 Filed 3-26-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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