Notice2026-19486
Notice of Intended Repatriation: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
September 23, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Minnesota 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 183 (Wednesday, September 23, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 183 (Wednesday, September 23, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 60398]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-19486]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[N7536; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043837; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intended Repatriation: University of Minnesota,
Minneapolis, MN
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 Minnesota 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 October 23, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the
cultural items in this notice to Dylan Goetsch, University of
Minnesota, Office of Native American Affairs, Morrill Hall, 100 Church
Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6b0c040e1f185b585d2b1e0605450e0f1e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="94f3fbf1e0e7a4a7a2d4e1f9fabaf1f0e1">[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
University of Minnesota, 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 40 lots of cultural items have been requested for
repatriation. The 40 lots of unassociated funerary objects are lithic
material, ground stone, ceramics, charcoal, soil samples, shell, faunal
material, and historic material. These items have been identified as
cultural items under NAGPRA based on tribal consultations, previous
NAGPRA summaries from other museums, and historical records of the
excavations. The items were collected in Minnesota, Yellow Medicine
County, by the Anthropology Department of the University of Minnesota
in the 1940's. Additionally, some of the items were donated to the
University in 1970 by a local collector. The University of Minnesota
records indicate no known hazardous substances.
Determinations
The University of Minnesota has determined that:
<bullet> The 40 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 Upper Sioux Community, Minnesota.
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 October 23, 2026. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, the University of Minnesota 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 Minnesota 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: September 17, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-19486 Filed 9-22-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 23, 2026.
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