Notice of Intended Repatriation: Museum of the Rockies, Bozeman, MT

Issuing agencies

Abstract

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Museum of the Rockies (MOR) 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 209 (Friday, October 30, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 209 (Friday, October 30, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 68548]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-22147]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[N7599; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0044070; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intended Repatriation: Museum of the Rockies, Bozeman, 
MT

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 Museum of the Rockies (MOR) 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 30, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the 
cultural item in this notice to Annya Jacobs, Registrar and Collections 
Manager of Cultural History, Museum of the Rockies, P.O. Box 172720, 
600 W Kagy Boulevard, Bozeman, MT 59717, email 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a5c4cbcbdcc48bcfc4c6cac7d6e5c8cacbd1c4cbc48bc0c1d0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f79699998e96d99d9694989584b79a989983969996d9929382">[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 
Museum of the Rockies 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 one Tobacco Bundle. The Bundle 
was donated to MOR by the Montana State College (now Montana State 
University) School of Art through Olga Ross Hannon in 1973. The Bundle 
was apparently purchased by a Mrs. Ryan from Lodge Grass from a member 
of the Crow Tribe of Montana. The bundle was confirmed to belong to the 
Crow Tribe of Montana based on Traditional Tribal Knowledge.

Determinations

    The Museum of the Rockies has determined that:
    <bullet> The one object of cultural patrimony described in this 
notice have 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 Crow Tribe of Montana.

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 30, 2026. If competing requests for 
repatriation are received, the Museum of the Rockies 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 Museum of the Rockies 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 22, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-22147 Filed 10-29-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P


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