Notice of Intended Repatriation: Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum, Wichita, KS

Issuing agencies

Abstract

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum (WSCHM) intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of sacred objects and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes in this notice.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 209 (Friday, October 30, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 209 (Friday, October 30, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 68556]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-22143]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[N7593; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0044066; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intended Repatriation: Wichita-Sedgwick County 
Historical Museum, Wichita, 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 Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical 
Museum (WSCHM) intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet 
the definition of sacred objects and that have a cultural affiliation 
with the Indian Tribes in this notice.

DATES: Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on 
or after November 30, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the 
cultural items in this notice to Jami Frazier Tracy, Wichita-Sedgwick 
County Historical Museum, 204 South Main Street, Wichita, KS 67202, 
email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d1bbb0bcb891a6b8b2b9b8a5b0b9b8a2a5bea3a8ffbea3b6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d2b8b3bfbb92a5bbb1babba6b3babba1a6bda0abfcbda0b5">[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 
WSCHM 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 10 cultural items have been requested for repatriation. 
The 10 sacred objects are child's leggings, child's vests, moccasins, 
pipe bags, and a breastplate. Carl Eldridge Bitting collected seven 
items (leggings, vests, pipe bags, moccasins) affiliated with the Sioux 
and Plains in the 1930s and 1940s during his travels throughout the 
Plains as a wholesale jewelry salesman, donated to the WSCHM in 1957. 
One item (breastplate) collected by Fern Mead Jordan (1882-1959), wife 
of 19th century Kansas trading post operator James R. Mead (1836-1910) 
and donated to the WSCHM in 1972 by their daughter, Ignace Mead Jones. 
One item (moccasins) collected by unknown and donated by Mr. and Mrs. 
Bond Hammond in 1977. One item (moccasins) collected by Mattie Fabrique 
Nolley (1867-1963) at an unknown time and donated by F. Ross and Evelyn 
Little in 1988. The WSCHM records indicate no known hazardous 
substances used to treat the items.

Determinations

    The WSCHM has determined that:
    <bullet> The 10 sacred objects described in this notice are 
specific ceremonial objects needed by a traditional Native American 
religious leader for present-day adherents to practice traditional 
Native American religion, according to the Native American traditional 
knowledge of a lineal descendant or Indian Tribe.
    <bullet> There is a connection between the cultural items described 
in this notice and the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck 
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 30, 2026. If competing requests for 
repatriation are received, the WSCHM 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 WSCHM is responsible for sending a copy of 
this notice to the Indian Tribes 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 22, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-22143 Filed 10-29-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P


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