Notice2026-10555
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Eiteljorg Museum of American Indian and Western Art, Indianapolis, IN
Primary source
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Published
May 28, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Eiteljorg Museum intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of 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 102 (Thursday, May 28, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 102 (Thursday, May 28, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31740-31741]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-10555]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N7173; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042844; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Eiteljorg Museum of American
Indian and Western Art, Indianapolis, IN
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 Eiteljorg Museum intends to repatriate
certain cultural items that meet the definition of 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 29, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the
cultural items in this notice to Katie Haigh, President/CEO, Eiteljorg
Museum of American Indians and Western Art, 500 W Washington Street,
Indianapolis, IN 46204, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#016a696068666941646875646d6b6e73662f626e6c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="63080b020a040b23060a17060f090c11044d000c0e">[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
Eiteljorg 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 four cultural items have been requested for
repatriation. The four objects of cultural patrimony are one Bear Mask,
one Raven Rattle, one Chilkat Blanket, and one Brown Bear Shirt. In the
mid-to late nineteenth century, four cultural items were removed from
undisclosed sites in unknown counties in southeastern Alaska.
Documentation regarding their removal and/or subsequent transfers prior
to their accession into the Eiteljorg Museum's collection is scarce.
Preceding the foundation of the Eiteljorg Museum in June 1989 by
Harrison Eiteljorg, these four cultural items were part of the personal
collection of Harrison Eiteljorg.
According to museum records, three of these four cultural items are
identified as Tlingit, and the other, Haida. The Bear Mask was
previously owned by John A. Buxton of Shango Galleries, and was
purchased by Harrison Eiteljorg on November 15, 1979. The Mask, dated
circa 1880, is carved from a single piece of wood, highlighting
prominent ears indicative of a bear, as well as eyebrows, and a mouth.
The irises and teeth have abalone shell inlay; the ears' edges are
inlayed, accentuating a contoured red pigmented pattern within the
bear's ears. Hair is attached to the back of each ear and affixed to
the back of the mask is a leather strap for the wearer. The Raven
Rattle, dated circa 1830, was purchased by Harrison Eiteljorg from
Parke-Bernet Galleries, in April 25, 1981; it was originally owned by
Leon and Polly Gordon Miller of Ohio. It is made of carved cedar that
has been halved and the center was carved out to hold metal balls
(possibly lead shot). The two pieces of wood are nailed together with
four metal nails, and the rattle is elaborately carved, featuring two
birds (Raven and Kingfisher) and a horizontal human figure, painted all
over with red and black pigment. The Chilkat Blanket, dated 1900-1910,
was purchased by Harrison Eiteljorg from John A. Buxton of Shango
Galleries probably in 1979, and it became a part of the Museum's
permanent collection on November 21, 1991. It is not known how the
Blanket was acquired by Buxton. It is of a double Killer Whale design,
facing away from one another, dyed with natural dyes in yellow, light
blue, and black. It is woven from Mountain Goat (Oreamnos americanus)
and yellow cedar, twisted wool and cedar fringe edge the sides and
bottom of the blanket. The Brown Bear Shirt, dated circa 1880, was
purchased by Harrison Eiteljorg from Howard Roloff on April 8, 1981. It
is constructed of dark brown wool trimmed with red fabric sewn around
the edges of the neckline, armholes, and hem; a Grizzly bear design
forms the shirt's central pattern. Shark teeth have been sewn within
the mouth of the top central figure's mouth to represent bear's teeth.
Mother of Pearl discs were sewn on to create the irises of the two
figures and stitched on Dentalium tube-like shells function as the
outline of the two figures. Abalone shell pieces configure the lower
lip of the bottom figure and abalone buttons adorn the Grizzly bear's
inner ears.
During consultation with representatives of the Central Council of
the Tlingit and Haida Tribes (hereafter Central Council), they
identified the Bear Mask (Xhoots L'axh'keit), Raven Rattle (Y[eacute]il
Sheixhooxh), Brown Bear Shirt (Xhoots Kud[aacute]s), and Chilkat
Blanket (Naaxhein) as objects of cultural patrimony. Northwest Coast
art historian Bill Holm referred to the Bear Mask as a headdress or
helmet crest; per the Central Council, the Bear Mask is clan-owned,
belonging to the entire clan and not just the person who is charged
with being its caretaker; moreover, a clan needs the hat to be able to
speak to their ancestors. The Brown Bear Shirt or sleeveless tunic
(kanna.[aacute]t) contains clan crests and since Dentalium (Tax'xee)
were an expensive trade item, only wealthy clan members worn them
during special events. The Raven Rattle is typically a part of a clan
chief's ceremonial regalia but it is also considered imbued with life--
a voice--integral to the imparting of oral traditions from generation
to generation. During consultation of the Chilkat, it was disclosed
that this Blanket was most likely woven by a master weaver whose work
reflects a year's worth of time. Additionally, the Blanket is an all in
one design, not divided into three sections. Chilkat Blankets are the
communal property of a clan, not an individual as they represent the
clan's crest or animals with distinct facial features in Northwest
Coast formline design. They are still worn by the wealthiest clan
leaders during important events such as a Potlatch and are
[[Page 31741]]
literally deemed as ``titles of ownership.''
As indicated through museum records and consultation with the
Central Council, the cultural affiliation of the three cultural items
is Tlingit, the Brown Bear Shirt as Haida. According to Tlingit oral
tradition, the Tlingit people have owned and occupied southeastern
Alaska since time immemorial. And according to Haida oral tradition,
the Haida people have occupied Haida Gwaii since time immemorial. In
the early eighteenth century, the Kaigani Haida (with which the Brown
Bear Shirt is culturally affiliated) migrated north, settling next to
the Tlingit. As Potlatches were outlawed in 1884, many cultural
belongings of both the Tlingit and Haida were destroyed or became part
of museum collections in North America and around the world.
Determinations
The Eiteljorg Museum has determined that:
<bullet> The four objects of cultural patrimony described in this
notice 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), according to the Native American traditional knowledge of
an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.
<bullet> There is a connection between the cultural items described
in this notice and the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian
Tribes.
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 29, 2026. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, the Eiteljorg Museum 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 Eiteljorg Museum 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 19, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-10555 Filed 5-27-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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