Notice2026-11230

Notice of Intended Repatriation: University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA

Primary source

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Published
June 4, 2026

Issuing agencies

Interior DepartmentNational Park Service

Abstract

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of California, Berkeley 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 107 (Thursday, June 4, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 107 (Thursday, June 4, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 33741]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-11230]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[N7190; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042923; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intended Repatriation: University of California, 
Berkeley, Berkeley, 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 University of California, Berkeley 
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 July 6, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the 
cultural items in this notice to Alexandra Lucas, Government and 
Community Relations, Office of the Chancellor. University of 
California, Berkeley, 200 California Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, email 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#98f6f9ffe8eaf9b5edfbfad8fafdeaf3fdf4fde1b6fdfced"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6e000f091e1c0f431b0d0c2e0c0b1c050b020b17400b0a1b">[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 
University of California, Berkeley, 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 five cultural items have been requested for 
repatriation. The five objects of cultural patrimony are three jars, 
one vessel, and one `Pueblo stone image'.
    In 1903, George H. Pepper was in Santa Fe, New Mexico, conducting 
archaeological and ethnological fieldwork for multiple sponsors, 
including Phoebe Hearst and Professor F.W. Putnam. An accompanying 
ledger in the accession file lists the specific cultural items 
acquired, including three jars and a vessel that originated from the 
Pueblo of Pojoaque.
    On May 7, 1908, the University of California Museum of Anthropology 
acquired a `Pueblo stone image' via an exchange with the Peabody Museum 
at Harvard University. The cultural item had originally been collected 
by F.W. Putnam, and was noted in the Museum's original ledgers to have 
come from Pojoaque Pueblo.
    Collections and collection spaces at the Phoebe A Hearst Museum of 
Anthropology were treated with substances for preservation and pest 
control, some potentially hazardous. No records have been found to date 
at the Museum to indicate whether or not chemicals or natural 
substances were used prior to 1960.

Determinations

    The University of California, Berkeley has determined that:
    <bullet> The five 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 reasonable connection between the cultural 
items described in this notice and the Pueblo of Pojoaque, New Mexico.

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 July 6, 2026. If competing requests for 
repatriation are received, the University of California, Berkeley 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 University of 
California, Berkeley 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 29, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-11230 Filed 6-3-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P


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Indexed from Federal Register on June 4, 2026.

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