Notice2026-08769
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Castine Scientific Society D.B.A. Wilson Museum, Castine, ME
Primary source
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Published
May 5, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Wilson Museum intends to repatriate a certain cultural item that meets the definition of a sacred object/ object of cultural patrimony 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 86 (Tuesday, May 5, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 86 (Tuesday, May 5, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24281-24282]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-08769]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N7121; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042693; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Castine Scientific Society
D.B.A. Wilson Museum, Castine, ME
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 Wilson Museum intends to repatriate a
certain cultural item that meets the definition of a sacred object/
object of cultural patrimony 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 June 4, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the
cultural item in this notice to Abby Dunham, Wilson Museum, P.O. Box
196, 120 Perkins Street, Castine, ME 04421, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c3b1a6b3a2b7b1aaa2b7aaacad83b4aaafb0acadaeb6b0a6b6aeedacb1a4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d4a6b1a4b5a0a6bdb5a0bdbbba94a3bdb8a7bbbab9a1a7b1a1b9fabba6b3">[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
Wilson 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 one cultural item has been requested for repatriation.
The one sacred object/object of cultural patrimony is one ceramic
vessel acquired by an unknown collector from Yuma, Arizona.
Determinations
The Wilson Museum has determined that:
<bullet> The one sacred object/object of cultural patrimony
described in this notice is, according to the Native American
traditional knowledge of an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian
organization, a specific ceremonial object needed by a traditional
Native American religious leader for present-day adherents to practice
traditional Native American religion, and has 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).
<bullet> There is a connection between the cultural item described
in this notice and the Quechan Tribe of the Fort Yuma Indian
Reservation, California & Arizona.
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 June 4, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation
are received, the Wilson Museum 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 Wilson Museum is responsible for sending a copy of this
notice to the Indian Tribes
[[Page 24282]]
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 27, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-08769 Filed 5-4-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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