Notice2026-06811
Notice of Intended Repatriation: The 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]
[Page 17986]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-06811]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N7054; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042548; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: The 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 Helen Robbins, The Field Museum, 1400
S DuSable Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#254d574a47474c4b5665434c4049414850564050480b4a5742"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9cf4eef3fefef5f2efdcfaf5f9f0f8f1e9eff9e9f1b2f3eefb">[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
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 2,064 cultural items have been requested for
repatriation from Apache, Coconino, Navajo, Gila, and Yavapai Counties,
Arizona for repatriation. These 2,064 objects of cultural patrimony are
from one accession that has been approved for repatriation. They mostly
consist of ceramic vessels such as food bowls, cooking pots, jars,
vases, mugs, and ladles Also present are bone, shell, and stone tools,
such as awls, arrow points, axes, projectiles, and other implements;
stone items such as mortars, beads.; and jewelry.
Additional Information: The requested items are part of Accession
745, (now known as the Frank J. Wattron Collection) and was acquired in
1901 by the Field Columbian Museum, (now known as the Field Museum).
Frank J. Wattron removed or purchased the requested items between July
1898 and April 1899 from various sites affiliated with the Hopi Tribe
in northeastern Arizona, including Chevelon, Homolovi I, Homolovi II,
Holbrook, Hopi Buttes, Mesa Redondo, Round Valley, San Cosmos, Tanner
Springs, and Taylor. All items in this request are archaeological and
identified in Field Museum records as Hopi. Based on consultation, and
academic research, however, these sites are jointly affiliated with the
Hopi Tribe of Arizona and Zuni Tribe of New Mexico. There is no known
presence of any potentially hazardous substances used to treat any of
the cultural items.
Determinations
The Field Museum has determined that:
<bullet> The 2,064 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 Hopi Tribe of Arizona.
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 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. 2026-06811 Filed 4-8-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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