Notice of Intended Repatriation: Ball State University, Muncie, IN

Issuing agencies

Abstract

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Ball State University intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of sacred objects or 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 167 (Monday, August 31, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 167 (Monday, August 31, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55897-55898]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-17698]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[N7450; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043582; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intended Repatriation: Ball State University, Muncie, 
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 Ball State University intends to 
repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of sacred 
objects or 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 September 30, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the 
cultural items in this notice to Chyan Gilaspy, Ball State University, 
Applied Anthropology Laboratories, 2000 W Riverside Avenue, Muncie, IN 
47306, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#410f0006111300012332346f242534"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8ec0cfc9dedccfceecfdfba0ebeafb">[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 
Ball State University 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 two cultural items have been requested for repatriation. 
The one sacred object is a pair of beaded moccasins. The one object of 
cultural patrimony is a beaded belt. The moccasins (catalog number 
1938.500.223a-b) were purchased from William Shrawder in 1938. They are 
described as Central Plains or possibly Sioux beaded leather moccasins. 
The moccasins were identified as Arapaho during consultation. The 
beaded belt (catalog number 1983.006.051) was donated by a private 
donor in 1983, who purchased the belt in Jackson Hole, Wyoming in 1974. 
It is described as an Arapaho beaded belt. Ball State University is 
unaware of any potentially hazardous substances used to treat any of 
the cultural items.

Determinations

    The Ball State University has determined that:
    <bullet> The one sacred object described in this notice are 
specific ceremonial objects needed by a traditional Native American 
religious leader for present-day adherents to practice traditional 
Native American religion, according to the Native American traditional 
knowledge of a lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian 
organization.
    <bullet> The one object 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,

[[Page 55898]]

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 Northern Arapaho Tribe of the Wind River 
Reservation, Wyoming.

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 [INSERT DATE 30 DAYS AFTER DATE OF PUBLICATION IN 
THE FEDERAL REGISTER]. If competing requests for repatriation are 
received, the Ball State University 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 Ball State University 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 20, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-17698 Filed 8-28-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P


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