Notice2026-10565
Notice of Intended Repatriation: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Alaska State Office, Anchorage, AK
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), U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Alaska State Office (BLM) 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 102 (Thursday, May 28, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 102 (Thursday, May 28, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 31736]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-10565]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N7186; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042864; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: U.S. Department of the Interior,
Bureau of Land Management, Alaska State Office, Anchorage, AK
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of
Land Management, Alaska State Office (BLM) 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 29, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the
cultural item in this notice to Robin O. Mills, Bureau of Land
Management Alaska State Office, 222 W 7th Avenue #13, Anchorage, AK
99513, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b2c0dfdbdedec1f2d0dedf9cd5ddc4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="42302f2b2e2e3102202e2f6c252d34">[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
BLM, 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 unassociated funerary object is University of Pennsylvania
Museum Object #32-7-1052, which is an artificial bone eye. Such eyes
were used during prehistoric burial practices in Kachemak Bay, Alaska.
This particular UFO was excavated by archaeologist Frederica de Laguna
in 1932 during excavations at the Yukon Island site (49-SEL-00001). The
UFO was found in the midden of this site and not directly associated
with any ancestral human remains or burials.
Determinations
The BLM 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 are 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 connection between the cultural item described
in this notice and the Native Village of Nanwalek (aka English Bay);
Native Village of Port Graham; and the Seldovia Village Tribe.
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 29, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation
are received, the BLM 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
BLM 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. 2026-10565 Filed 5-27-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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