Notice of Inventory Completion: Field Museum, Chicago, IL

Issuing agencies

Abstract

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Field Museum has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and 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 55895-55896]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-17706]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[N7456; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043590; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Field Museum, Chicago, 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 Field Museum has completed an inventory 
of human remains and associated funerary objects and has determined 
that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and 
associated funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian 
organizations in this notice.

DATES: Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects in this notice may occur on or after September 30, 2026.

[[Page 55896]]


ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains 
and associated funerary objects in this notice to June Carpenter, Field 
Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605, email 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#85efe6e4f7f5e0ebf1e0f7c5e3ece0e9e1e8f0f6e0f0e8abeaf7e2"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="08626b697a786d667c6d7a486e616d646c657d7b6d7d6526677a6f">[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 
Field Museum, and additional information on the determinations in this 
notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in its 
inventory or related records. The National Park Service is not 
responsible for the determinations in this notice.

Abstract of Information Available

    Human remains representing, at least, 45 individuals have been 
identified. The 83 associated funerary objects are rings, bracelets, 
and faunal remains.
    In May of 1897, Curator George A. Dorsey removed four individuals 
and five associated funerary objects from the Blood 148 Reserve in 
Alberta, Canada. In May of 1894, Indian Agent, Robert N. Wilson removed 
23 individuals and 78 associated funerary objects from the Blood 148 
Reserve, and five individuals from the Piikani 147 Reserve in Alberta, 
Canada. The Field Museum accessioned all of these 32 individuals in 
October of 1897. At some time prior to August 10, 1905, Wilson removed 
13 individuals from the Piikani 147 Reserve. The Museum accessioned 
these individuals on August 10, 1905. Museum records and consultation 
indicate that these 45 individuals are culturally affiliated with the 
Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation of Montana based on 
a relationship of shared group identity. While they were removed from 
locations in Alberta, the human remains bear a relationship to a Tribe 
indigenous to the United States. There is no known presence of 
hazardous substances.

Cultural Affiliation

    Based on the information available and the results of consultation, 
cultural affiliation is clearly identified by the information available 
about the human remains and associated funerary objects described in 
this notice.

Determinations

    The Field Museum has determined that:
    <bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the 
physical remains of 45 individuals of Native American ancestry.
    <bullet> The 83 objects described in this notice are reasonably 
believed to have been placed intentionally with or near individual 
human remains at the time of death or later as part of the death rite 
or ceremony.
    <bullet> There is a connection between the human remains and 
associated funerary objects described in this notice and the Blackfeet 
Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation of Montana.

Requests for Repatriation

    Written requests for repatriation of the human remains and 
associated funerary objects in this notice must be sent to the 
authorized representative identified in this notice under ADDRESSES. 
Requests for repatriation may be submitted by:
    1. Any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian 
organizations identified in this notice.
    2. 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 an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization with 
cultural affiliation.
    Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects 
described in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after September 
30, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the 
Field Museum must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to 
repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the human remains and 
associated funerary objects are considered a single request and not 
competing requests. The Field Museum is responsible for sending a copy 
of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations 
identified in this notice and any other consulting parties.
    Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 
25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.10.

    Dated: August 20, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-17706 Filed 8-28-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P


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