Notice2026-07946
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Martha's Vineyard Museum, Vineyard Haven, MA
Primary source
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Published
April 23, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Martha's Vineyard Museum (formerly Dukes County Historical Society) 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 78 (Thursday, April 23, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 78 (Thursday, April 23, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 21838]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-07946]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N7097; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042630; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Martha's Vineyard Museum,
Vineyard Haven, MA
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 Martha's Vineyard Museum (formerly Dukes
County Historical Society) 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 26, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the
cultural items in this notice to Anna Barber, Martha's Vineyard Museum,
151 Lagoon Pond Road, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f594979487979087b59883988086908098db9a8792"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3c5d5e5d4e5e594e7c514a51494f59495112534e5b">[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
Martha's Vineyard 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 three cultural items have been requested for
repatriation. The three sacred objects are a canoe, a grass skirt and
tapa cloth, and a poi pounder. The canoe and poi pounder were donated
by Elmer J. Bliss who had acquired them in Hawaii and brought them to
Martha's Vineyard before donating them to the Museum in 1941. The grass
skirt and tapa cloth were brought to the Vineyard from Hawaii by whaler
Manuel Norton c. 1870 before being donated to the Museum by Mrs. Arthur
Vincent in 1956.
Determinations
The Martha's Vineyard Museum has determined that:
<bullet> The three 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[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 26, 2026. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, the Martha's Vineyard 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 Martha's Vineyard 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 15, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-07946 Filed 4-22-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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