Notice of Inventory Completion: Kankakee County Historical Society, Kankakee, IL

Issuing agencies

Abstract

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Kankakee County Historical Society 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

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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]
[Pages 68546-68547]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-22158]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[N7607; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0044098; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Kankakee County Historical 
Society, Kankakee, IL

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 Kankakee County Historical Society 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

[[Page 68547]]

to Curator, Kankakee County Museum, 801 S. 8th Avenue, Kankakee, IL 
60901, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5330262132273c217d38603e262036263e13343e323a3f7d303c3e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e182949380958e93cf8ad28c949284948ca1868c80888dcf828e8c">[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 
Kankakee County Historical Society, 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

    Human remains representing, at least, one individual have been 
identified. They were collected by L.L. Shidler of Triangle 
Construction Co. likely within Kankakee County from 1933-1978. The 30 
lots of associated funerary objects are 30 lots of animal teeth, bones, 
and fossils. The objects were donated to the historical society in 1984 
by his son, Leslie N. Shidler. Records indicate no known hazardous 
substances were used on these items.
    Human remains representing, at least, two individuals have been 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present with them. The 
remains were donated to the historical society's collection prior to 
1990 by an unknown individual and were likely collected in Kankakee 
county or the surrounding area. Records indicate no known hazardous 
substances were used on these items.

Cultural Affiliation

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

Determinations

    The Kankakee County Historical Society has determined that:
    <bullet> The human remains described in this notice represent the 
physical remains of three individuals of Native American ancestry.
    <bullet> The 30 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 Match-E-
Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi (previously listed as Match-E-Be-
Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan); Pokagon Band of 
Potawatomi Indians, Michigan and Indiana; and the Prairie Band 
Potawatomi Nation.

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, the 
Kankakee County Historical Society 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. The Kankakee County Historical 
Society 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. 2026-22158 Filed 10-29-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P


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