Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Montana Missoula, Missoula, MT

Issuing agencies

Abstract

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Montana Missoula (UM) has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

Full Text

<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 209 (Friday, October 30, 2026)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 209 (Friday, October 30, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 68549]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-22146]



[[Page 68549]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[N7597; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0044069; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Montana Missoula, 
Missoula, MT

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and 
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Montana Missoula (UM) has 
completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects 
and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the 
human remains and associated funerary objects and Indian Tribes or 
Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

DATES: Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary 
objects in this notice may occur on or after November 30, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Send written requests for repatriation of the human remains 
and associated funerary objects in this notice to Courtney Little Axe, 
NAGPRA Coordinator and Collections Manager, University of Montana--
Missoula, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, MT 59812, email 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#83e0ecf6f1f7ede6faadefeaf7f7efe6e2fbe6c3f6eef7ade6e7f6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a9cac6dcdbddc7ccd087c5c0ddddc5ccc8d1cce9dcc4dd87cccddc">[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 UM, 
and additional information on the determinations in this notice, 
including the results of consultation, can be found in its inventory or 
related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the 
determinations in this notice.

Abstract of Information Available

    Based on the information available, human remains representing, at 
least, two individuals have been reasonably identified. The one adult 
(likely female) and one subadult (likely male) arrived at UM prior to 
1991 and were assigned University of Montana Forensic Collection (UMFC) 
accession number UMFC 50. The 18 associated funerary objects are two 
unmodified copper wire bracelets, one copper wire bracelet with linear 
marks, and 15 machine twisted copper wire bracelets (two of which are 
double strand). The adult individual was reported as wearing these 18 
bracelets on the forearm at the time of discovery. It is unknown 
whether or how the two individuals were connected. To date, their 
geographic place of origin and history of how they came to be at UM 
remains unknown and to the best of UM's knowledge there is no recorded 
use of hazardous substances to treat the human remains or associated 
funerary objects.

Cultural Affiliation

    Based on the information available and the results of consultation, 
cultural affiliation is reasonably identified by the geographical 
location the human remains and associated funerary objects described in 
this notice.

Determinations

    UM has determined that:
    <bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the 
physical remains of two individuals of Native American ancestry.
    <bullet> The 18 objects described in this notice are reasonably 
believed to have been placed intentionally with or near individual 
human remains at the time of death or later as part of the death rite 
or ceremony.
    <bullet> There is a connection between the human remains and 
associated funerary objects described in this notice and the 
Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, 
Montana.

Requests for Repatriation

    Written requests for repatriation of the human remains and 
associated funerary objects in this notice must be sent to the 
authorized representative identified in this notice under ADDRESSES. 
Requests for repatriation may be submitted by:
    1. Any one or more of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian 
organizations identified in this notice.
    2. 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 an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization with 
cultural affiliation.
    Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects 
described in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after November 
30, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, UM must 
determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. 
Requests for joint repatriation of the human remains and associated 
funerary objects are considered a single request and not competing 
requests. UM is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the 
Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this 
notice and any other consulting parties.
    Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 
25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.10.

    Dated: October 22, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-22146 Filed 10-29-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P


</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>