Notice2026-07954
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Thornton W. Burgess Society, East Sandwich, 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 Thornton W. Burgess Society intends to repatriate a certain cultural item that meets the definition of a sacred object and that has 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]
[Pages 21834-21835]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-07954]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N7104; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042663; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Thornton W. Burgess Society,
East Sandwich, 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 Thornton W. Burgess Society intends to
repatriate a certain cultural item that meets the definition of a
sacred object and that has a cultural affiliation with the Indian
Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
DATES: Repatriation of the cultural item in this notice may occur on or
after May 26, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the
cultural item in this notice to Stephen Miles Uzzo, Thornton W. Burges
Society, 6 Discovery Hill Road, East Sandwich, MA 02537, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5f2c2a2525301f3c3c32313771302d38"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6417111e1e0b240707090a0c4a0b1603">[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
Thornton W. Burgess Society, 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 one cultural item has been requested for repatriation in
this notice. The one sacred object is Kapa (Tapa). It is recorded as
probably of Pacific Island origin which came to the Thornton W. Burgess
Society in 1983. The item was part of a donation from the collections
of Alfred E. Hoxie of East Sandwich and were donated to the Society by
his daughter.
Determinations
The Thornton W. Burgess Society has determined that:
<bullet> The one sacred object described in this notice is a
specific ceremonial object 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,
[[Page 21835]]
Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization.
<bullet> There is a connection between the cultural item described
in this notice and the Hui Iwi Kuamo[revaps]o.
Requests for Repatriation
Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural item
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 item in this notice to a requestor may
occur on or after May 26, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation
are received, the Thornton W. Burgess Society must determine the most
appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint
repatriation of the cultural item are considered a single request and
not competing requests. The Thornton W. Burgess Society 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 17, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-07954 Filed 4-22-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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