Notice2026-11706
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Kern County Museum, Bakersfield, CA
Primary source
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Published
June 11, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Kern County 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 112 (Thursday, June 11, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 112 (Thursday, June 11, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35537-35538]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-11706]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N7221; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042972; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: Kern County Museum, Bakersfield,
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 Kern County 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 July 13, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the
cultural items in this notice to Michael McCoy, Kern County Museum,
3801 Chester Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2e43434d4d41576e454b5c404d415b405a57435b5d4b5b4300415c49"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f895959b9b9781b8939d8a969b978d968c81958d8b9d8d95d6978a9f">[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
Kern County 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 20 cultural items have been requested for repatriation.
The 20 objects of cultural patrimony. All baskets originated from the
Kern River Valley and were donated to the Kern County Museum by
multiple individuals. The baskets are attributed to the following
Tribes. 10 baskets--Tubatulabal; five baskets--Kawaiisu; two identified
as Tubatulabal/Kawaiisu; one Tejon; one Paiute; one identified as Made
by Lower Kern Indian.
Determinations
The Kern County Museum has determined that:
<bullet> The 20 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 Tejon Indian Tribe.
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.
[[Page 35538]]
Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to a requestor
may occur on or after July 13, 2026. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, the Kern County 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 Kern County 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: June 5, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-11706 Filed 6-10-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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