Notice of Intended Repatriation: Yale Peabody Museum, Yale University, New Haven, CT

Issuing agencies

Abstract

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Yale Peabody Museum intends to repatriate a certain cultural item that meets the definition of an unassociated funerary object and that has a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes organizations in this notice.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 199 (Friday, October 16, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 199 (Friday, October 16, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65763-65764]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-21108]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[N7555; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043929; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intended Repatriation: Yale Peabody Museum, Yale 
University, New Haven, 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 Yale Peabody Museum intends to 
repatriate a certain cultural item that meets the definition of an 
unassociated funerary object and that has a cultural affiliation with 
the Indian Tribes organizations in this notice.

DATES: Repatriation of the cultural item in this notice may occur on or 
after November 16, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the 
cultural item in this notice to Professor David Skelly, Director, Yale 
Peabody Museum, P.O. Box 208118, New Haven, CT 06520-8118, email 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5b3f3a2d323f7528303e3737221b223a373e753e3f2e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="aacecbdcc3ce84d9c1cfc6c6d3ead3cbc6cf84cfcedf">[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 
Yale Peabody Museum, 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 unassociated funerary object is a bird effigy soapstone pipe 
donated to the Yale Peabody Museum by Reverend

[[Page 65764]]

Edward O. (E.O.) Dunning, likely between 1869 and 1870.

Determinations

    The Yale Peabody Museum has determined that:
    <bullet> The one unassociated funerary object described in this 
notice is 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 object has 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 item described 
in this notice and the Cherokee Nation; Eastern Band of Cherokee 
Indians; and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma.

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 16, 2026. If competing requests for 
repatriation are received, the Yale Peabody Museum 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 Yale Peabody Museum 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: October 7, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-21108 Filed 10-15-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P


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