Notice2026-07383
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Dayton Society of Natural History, Dayton, OH
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
April 16, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Dayton Society of Natural History (DSNH) 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 73 (Thursday, April 16, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 73 (Thursday, April 16, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 20491]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-07383]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N7080; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042597; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Dayton Society of Natural
History, Dayton, OH
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 Dayton Society of Natural History (DSNH)
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 May 18, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the
cultural items in this notice to Tracey Tomme, President & CEO, the
Dayton Society of Natural History, 2600 DeWeese Parkway, Dayton, OH
45414, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3a4e4e5557575f7a5855554952555c4e574f495f4f571455485d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="394d4d5654545c795b56564a51565f4d544c4a5c4c5417564b5e">[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
DSNH, 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 three cultural items have been requested for
repatriation. The three sacred objects consist of two lei niho palaoa
and one niho palaoa. They are identified as catalog number A-0983, Lei
Niho Palaoa (whale tooth pendant necklace); catalog number A-0984, Lei
Niho Palaoa (whale tooth pendant necklace); and catalog number A-0994,
Niho Palaoa (whale tooth pendant). All three items are part of
Accession 53-49 and were donated to the Dayton Society of Natural
History (DSNH) in 1949 by Brother Walter Roesch of the University of
Dayton. Brother Roesch taught in elementary schools in Baltimore,
Maryland; Honolulu, Hawaii; and San Francisco, California between 1937
and 1946. Although exact dates are not fully documented, records
indicate that in 1942 he transferred from St. Anthony School in
Wailuku, Maui, to St. Louis College in Honolulu. In 1946, he joined the
library staff at the University of Dayton. While there is no direct
documentation regarding the acquisition of these items, it is believed
they were obtained during Brother Roesch's time in Hawaii. This
interpretation is based on his documented presence there.
Determinations
The DSNH has determined that:
<bullet> The three sacred objects described in this notice are
specific ceremonial objects needed by a traditional Native Hawaiian
religious leader for present-day adherents to practice traditional
Native Hawaiian religion, according to the Native Hawaiian 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[revaps]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 May 18, 2026. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, the DSNH 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 DSNH 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 8, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-07383 Filed 4-15-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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