Notice of Intended Repatriation: Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Jackson, MS

Issuing agencies

Abstract

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects 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 162 (Monday, August 24, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 162 (Monday, August 24, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54757-54758]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-17171]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[N7433; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043536; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intended Repatriation: Mississippi Department of 
Archives and History, Jackson, MS

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and

[[Page 54758]]

Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Mississippi Department of Archives and 
History (MDAH) intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet 
the definition of unassociated funerary objects 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 September 23, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the 
cultural items in this notice to Cindy-Carter Davis, Chief 
Archaeologist, Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Historic 
Preservation Division, 100 South State Street, P.O. Box 571, Jackson, 
MS 39205, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a1c2c2c0d3d5c4d3c5c0d7c8d2e1ccc5c0c98fccd28fc6ced7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d8bbbbb9aaacbdaabcb9aeb1ab98b5bcb9b0f6b5abf6bfb7ae">[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 
Mississippi Department of Archives and History, 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 lot of cultural items has been requested from 
22WI500 (Nanih Waiya). The one lot of unassociated funerary objects 
consist of lithics. The collection was recovered from the site by a 
private individual. An additional collection has no provenience 
information available.
    A total of one lot of cultural items has been requested for 
repatriation from 22NE632 (Nanih Waiya Cave). The one lot of 
unassociated funerary objects consist of lithics. This collection has 
no provenience information.
    Through Tribal consultation, the two lots of unassociated funerary 
objects were identified as culturally affiliated with The Choctaw 
Nation of Oklahoma, Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, and the Jena 
Band of Choctaw Indians.
    To our knowledge, no known hazardous substances were used to treat 
any of the unassociated funerary objects.

Determinations

    The Mississippi Department of Archives and History has determined 
that:
    <bullet> The two lots of unassociated funerary objects described in 
this notice are 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 objects have 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 items described 
in this notice and the Jena Band of Choctaw Indians; Mississippi Band 
of Choctaw Indians; and The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

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 September 23, 2026. If competing requests for 
repatriation are received, the Mississippi Department of Archives and 
History 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 Mississippi 
Department of Archives and History 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: August 17, 2026.
Mariah Soriano,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-17171 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P


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