Notice of Intended Repatriation: Kansas State Historical Society, Topeka, KS

Issuing agencies

Abstract

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Kansas State Historical Society (KSHS) 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 194 (Thursday, October 8, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 194 (Thursday, October 8, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64391-64392]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-20574]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[N7546; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043912; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intended Repatriation: Kansas State Historical Society, 
Topeka, KS

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 Kansas State Historical Society (KSHS) 
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 November 9, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the 
cultural items in this notice to Dr. Nicole Klarmann, Kansas State 
Historical Society, 6425 SW 6th Avenue, Topeka, KS 66615-1099, email 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#78130b100b5616191f080a1938130b561f170e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2b4058435805454a4c5b594a6b4058054c445d">[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 
KSHS 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 17 cultural items have been requested for repatriation 
(UBS 2023-22). The 17 unassociated funerary objects include a metal 
projectile point, an iron hatchet head, stones, a pair of shears, iron 
scrapers, a tin cup, a copper ornament, a lance head, and animal bones. 
The catalog description states the items are ``relics found on the site 
of Chivington's Indian Massacre, Sand Creek . . . December 9, 1864, 
collected by E. Powell, Granaries, CO.'' They were donated to KSHS in 
1882 by Joseph Savage.
    A total of one cultural item has been requested for repatriation 
(UBS 2023-26). The one unassociated funerary object is a wooden burl 
described as an Indian doll head that was found at the Sand Creek 
Massacre site in Colorado. The item was donated to KSHS in 1972 by Dr. 
O.H. Simpson on behalf of an anonymous donor. An unspecified glue and 
cloth remain on the shoulders.
    To our knowledge, no known hazardous substances were used on any of 
the funerary objects.

Determinations

    The KSHS has determined that:
    <bullet> The 18 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 Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, Oklahoma; Northern 
Arapaho Tribe of the Wind River Reservation, Wyoming; and the Northern 
Cheyenne Tribe of the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, Montana.

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 November 9, 2026. If competing requests for 
repatriation are received, the KSHS must determine the most appropriate 
requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the 
cultural items are

[[Page 64392]]

considered a single request and not competing requests. The KSHS 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. 2026-20574 Filed 10-7-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P


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