Notice2026-09401
Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
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 University of Michigan has completed an inventory of human remains (hereinafter referred to as "Ancestral remains" or "Ancestor") and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the Ancestral remains and 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]
[Pages 25905-25906]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-09401]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N7132; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042749; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Michigan, Ann
Arbor, MI
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 University of Michigan has completed an
inventory of human remains (hereinafter referred to as ``Ancestral
remains'' or ``Ancestor'') and has determined that there is a cultural
affiliation between the Ancestral remains and Indian Tribes or Native
Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
DATES: Repatriation of the Ancestral remains in this notice may occur
on or after June 11, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the Ancestral
remains in this notice to Dr. Ben Secunda, NAGPRA Office Managing
Director, University of Michigan, Office of Research, Suite G269, Lane
Hall, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1274, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1b79687e786e757f7a5b6e76727873357e7f6e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b1d3c2d4d2c4dfd5d0f1c4dcd8d2d99fd4d5c4">[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
University of Michigan, and additional information on the
determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation,
can be found in its inventory or related records. The National Park
Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.
Abstract of Information Available
Ancestral remains representing, at least, one individual have been
identified. No associated funerary objects are present. In the summer
of 2018, the Ancestor was found in the University of Michigan Museum of
Natural History collections. The Ancestor is from an unknown location,
United States.
The University of Michigan has no record of, nor do its officials
have any knowledge of, any treatment of the Ancestral remains with
pesticides, preservatives, or other substances that represent a
potential hazard to the collection or to persons handling the
collection.
Cultural Affiliation
Based on the information available and the results of consultation,
cultural affiliation is reasonably identified by the geographical
location or acquisition history of the Ancestral remains described in
this notice.
Determinations
The University of Michigan has determined that:
<bullet> The Ancestral remains described in this notice represent
the physical remains of one individual of Native American ancestry.
<bullet> There is a connection between the Ancestral remains
described in this notice and the Bay Mills Indian Community, Michigan;
Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Michigan;
Hannahville Indian Community, Michigan; Keweenaw Bay Indian Community,
Michigan; Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of
Michigan; Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Michigan; Little
Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan; Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish
Band of Pottawatomi (previously listed as Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band
of Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan); Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the
Potawatomi, Michigan; Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, Michigan and
Indiana; Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan; and the Sault Ste.
Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Michigan.
[[Page 25906]]
Requests for Repatriation
Written requests for repatriation of the Ancestral remains in this
notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this
notice under ADDRESSES. Requests for repatriation may be submitted by:
1. Any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian
organizations identified in this notice and, if joined to a request
from one or more of the Indian Tribes, the Burt Lake Band of Ottawa and
Chippewa Indians or Grand River Bands of Ottawa Indians, as non-
federally recognized Indian groups.
2. 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 an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization with
cultural affiliation.
Repatriation of the Ancestral remains described in this notice to a
requestor may occur on or after June 11, 2026. If competing requests
for repatriation are received, the University of Michigan must
determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation.
Requests for joint repatriation of the Ancestral remains are considered
a single request and not competing requests. The University of Michigan
is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes
and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice and any
other consulting parties.
Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act,
25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.10.
Dated: May 5, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-09401 Filed 5-11-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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