Notice2026-09419

Notice of Intended Repatriation: Chicago Historical Society, Chicago, IL

Primary source

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Published
May 12, 2026

Issuing agencies

Interior DepartmentNational Park Service

Abstract

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Chicago Historical Society and its affiliate Chicago History Museum ("Chicago Historical Society") intends to repatriate a certain cultural item that meets the definition of an unassociated funerary 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 91 (Tuesday, May 12, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 91 (Tuesday, May 12, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25901-25902]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-09419]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[N7152; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042768; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intended Repatriation: Chicago Historical Society, 
Chicago, IL

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 Chicago Historical Society and its 
affiliate Chicago History Museum

[[Page 25902]]

(``Chicago Historical Society'') intends to repatriate a certain 
cultural item that meets the definition of an unassociated funerary 
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 June 11, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the 
cultural item in this notice to Julie Katz, Senior Registrar, Chicago 
Historical Society, 1601 N Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60614, email 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1f747e6b655f7c77767c7e787077766c6b706d6631706d78"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="432822373903202b2a2022242c2b2a30372c313a6d2c3124">[email&#160;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 
Chicago Historical 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

    One cultural item has been requested for repatriation. The 
unassociated funerary object is a silver armlet purchased by the 
Chicago Historical Society in 1920 from the Estate of Charles F. 
Gunther. It is unknown how Gunther acquired the item. The armlet is 
engraved with the Royal British coat of arms as it was during the reign 
of George III. There is a grooved border at the top and bottom, and 
four holes (two on each side) pierced at the back for securing. The 
item was likely given to a Native American leader by the British for 
his support during the War of 1812. The item was removed from a mound 
near Grand Rapids, Michigan. Information shared during tribal 
consultation indicates this was likely to have been a burial mound.

Determinations

    The Chicago Historical Society has determined that:
    <bullet> The one unassociated funerary object described in this 
notice is reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with or 
near human remains, and is connected, either at the time of death or 
later, as part of the death rite or ceremony of a Native American 
culture according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a 
lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization. The 
unassociated funerary object has been identified by a preponderance of 
the evidence as related to human remains, specific individuals, or 
families, or removed from a specific burial site or burial area of an 
individual or individuals with cultural affiliation to an Indian Tribe 
or Native Hawaiian organization.
    <bullet> There is a reasonable connection between the cultural item 
described in this notice and the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of 
Pottawatomi (previously listed as Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of 
Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan).

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 11, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation 
are received, the Chicago Historical 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 Chicago Historical 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: May 5, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-09419 Filed 5-11-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P


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Indexed from Federal Register on May 12, 2026.

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