Notice2026-09400
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Benton Museum of Art at Pomona College, Claremont, CA
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
May 12, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Benton Museum of Art at Pomona College intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of sacred objects/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 91 (Tuesday, May 12, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 91 (Tuesday, May 12, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 25904]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-09400]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N7131; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042748; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Benton Museum of Art at Pomona
College, Claremont, CA
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 Benton Museum of Art at Pomona College
intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition
of sacred objects/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 June 11, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the
cultural items in this notice to Steve Comba, Associate Director.
Benton Museum of Art, Pomona College, 333 N. College Way, Claremont, CA
91711, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#394a5a56545b5879495654565758175c5d4c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c9baaaa6a4aba889b9a6a4a6a7a8e7acadbc">[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
Benton Museum of Art at Pomona College, 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 four cultural items have been requested for
repatriation. The four sacred objects/objects of cultural patrimony are
one hair ornament, one head band, one feather pompom, and one rattle.
The four objects are ceremonial regalia collected by Jonathan Tibbet,
Jr. at an unknown date and donated to the Benton Museum of Art at
Pomona College in 1929.
Determinations
The Benton Museum of Art at Pomona College has determined that:
<bullet> The four sacred objects/objects of cultural patrimony
described in this notice are, according to the Native American
traditional knowledge of an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian
organization, specific ceremonial objects needed by a traditional
Native American religious leader for present-day adherents to practice
traditional Native American religion, and 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).
<bullet> There is a connection between the cultural items described
in this notice and the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation (previously
listed as San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, California.
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 June 11, 2026. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, the Benton Museum of Art at Pomona College
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 Benton Museum of Art at
Pomona College 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: May 5, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-09400 Filed 5-11-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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