Notice of Intended Repatriation: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL

Issuing agencies

Abstract

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 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 167 (Monday, August 31, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 167 (Monday, August 31, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 55898]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-17704]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[N7454; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043588; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intended Repatriation: University of Illinois Urbana-
Champaign, Champaign, IL

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 Illinois Urbana-Champaign 
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 30, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the 
cultural items in this notice to Krystiana Krupa, University of 
Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 601 E John Street, Champaign, IL 61802, 
email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a3c8cfc8d1d6d3c2e3cacfcfcacdcccad08dc6c7d6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b2d9ded9c0c7c2d3f2dbdededbdcdddbc19cd7d6c7">[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 Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 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 115 cultural items have been requested for repatriation. 
The 115 unassociated funerary objects include stone points, spearheads, 
knives, celts, gouges, abraders, hammerstones, iron pyrites, paint 
grinders, plummets, red and yellow ochre, pestles, bone fishhooks, bone 
awls, an iron hatchet, and a birch bark basket. The objects described 
in this notice were removed from various burial sites in Maine, 
including Emerson Cemetery, Hartford Cemetery, Mason Cemetery, Orland, 
Boynton's Point, Frenchman Bay, Stover's Shell Heap, and unknown 
locations in Hancock County, Penobscot County, Piscataquis County, and 
Waldo County. They were gifted to the University's Museum of Natural 
History in 1921 by Warren K. Moorehead during his tenure at the 
Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts.
    No hazardous substances are known to have been used to treat any of 
the unassociated funerary objects.

Determinations

    The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has determined that:
    <bullet> The 115 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 Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians; Mi'kmaq Nation 
(previously listed as Aroostook Band of Micmacs); Passamaquoddy Tribe; 
and the Penobscot Nation.

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 30, 2026. If competing requests for 
repatriation are received, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 
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 Illinois 
Urbana-Champaign 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. 2026-17704 Filed 8-28-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P


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