Notice2026-06810

Notice of Intended Repatriation: Field Museum, Chicago, IL

Primary source

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Published
April 9, 2026

Issuing agencies

Interior DepartmentNational Park Service

Abstract

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Field Museum intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of 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 68 (Thursday, April 9, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 68 (Thursday, April 9, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18000-18001]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-06810]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[N7050; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042547; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intended Repatriation: Field Museum, Chicago, IL

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 Field Museum intends to repatriate 
certain cultural items that meet the definition of 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 May 11, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the 
cultural items in this notice to June Carpenter, Field Museum, 1400 S 
Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#82e8e1e3f0f2e7ecf6e7f0c2e4ebe7eee6eff7f1e7f7efacedf0e5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="137970726163767d67766153757a767f777e666076667e3d7c6174">[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 the 
Field Museum, 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 24 cultural items have been requested for repatriation. 
The 24 objects of cultural patrimony are five feast mats, seven woven 
bags, and 12 items that constitute a sacred bundle. George Dorsey 
collected the items from the Osage Reservation in 1901. They were 
accessioned by the Field Museum that same year. There is no known 
presence of any potentially hazardous substances.

Determinations

    The Field Museum has determined that:
    <bullet> The 24 objects of cultural patrimony described in this 
notice 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), according to the Native American traditional knowledge of 
an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.
    <bullet> There is a connection between the cultural items described 
in this notice and The Osage Nation.

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 May 11, 2026. If competing requests for 
repatriation are received, the Field Museum 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 Field Museum is responsible for sending a 
copy of this

[[Page 18001]]

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: April 1, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-06810 Filed 4-8-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P


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Indexed from Federal Register on April 9, 2026.

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