Notice of Intended Repatriation: Bruce Museum Inc., Greenwich, CT

Issuing agencies

Abstract

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Bruce Museum, Inc., intends to repatriate a certain cultural item that meets the definition of an object of cultural patrimony and that has 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 194 (Thursday, October 8, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 194 (Thursday, October 8, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 64392]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-20569]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[N7549; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043916; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intended Repatriation: Bruce Museum Inc., Greenwich, CT

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 Bruce Museum, Inc., intends to 
repatriate a certain cultural item that meets the definition of an 
object of cultural patrimony and that has a cultural affiliation with 
the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

DATES: Repatriation of the cultural item in this notice may occur on or 
after November 9, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the 
cultural item in this notice to Kirsten J. Reinhardt, Bruce Museum, 1 
Museum Drive, Greenwich, CT 06830, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a0cbd2c5c9cec8c1d2c4d4e0c2d2d5c3c5cdd5d3c5d5cd8ecfd2c7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="cba0b9aea2a5a3aab9afbf8ba9b9bea8aea6beb8aebea6e5a4b9ac">[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 
Bruce Museum, Inc., 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 cultural item has been requested for repatriation. 
The one object of cultural patrimony is a Xoots. Naaxein (Brown Bear 
Chilkat Robe), Bruce Museum number 67.03.04. It is a wide, inverted 
pentagonal shape, woven of primarily commercial yarns. Black and yellow 
border; center is mirrored totemic design in black, yellow, turquois, 
and white; fringed on three sides. Harold Jacobs, of the Central 
Council Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes examined the robe at the Bruce, 
in 2005, and declared the design to be an orca with a man riding on its 
back. Jacobs said it was woven by Kaax'eidei.[aacute]t, who was from 
the Gaanaxteidi clan of Klukwan, Alaska. She was the only person who 
wove the colored fringe seen on this piece. The robe was collected by 
Miss Alice Taggart (1881-1954), aunt of the donor, Eliza Macknet 
Taggart Davies, aka Mrs. William A. Davies. Based on the objects 
collected, Miss Taggart likely was in Alaska between 1900-1920. Travel 
records indicate that she was in Alaska during August and September, 
1920.

Determinations

    The Bruce Museum, Inc., has determined that:
    <bullet> The one object of cultural patrimony described in this 
notice has ongoing historical, traditional, or cultural importance 
central to the Native American group, including any constituent sub-
group (such as a band, 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 item described 
in this notice and the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian 
Tribes.

Requests for Repatriation

    Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural item 
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 item in this notice to a requestor may 
occur on or after November 9, 2026. If competing requests for 
repatriation are received, the Bruce Museum, Inc., must determine the 
most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint 
repatriation of the cultural item are considered a single request and 
not competing requests. The Bruce Museum, Inc., 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 30, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-20569 Filed 10-7-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P


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