[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 4, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23702-23703]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-10134]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0040264; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intended Repatriation: The Field Museum, Chicago, 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 Field Museum intends to repatriate 
certain cultural items that meet the definition of unassociated 
funerary objects and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian 
Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

DATES: Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on 
or after July 7, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the 
cultural items in this notice to Helen Robbins, The Field Museum, 1400 
S Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605, email [email protected].

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 
Field 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 42 cultural items from Coconino and Navajo Counties, 
Arizona have been requested for repatriation. These 42 unassociated 
funerary objects that are from five different accessions approved for 
repatriation consist of ceramics, beads, awls, miniatures, and a 
mortar. Between 1893 and 1901, twenty objects consisting of ceramics 
and a bead were removed by Mennonite missionary Heinrich Voth from 
several sites on the Hopi Reservation. George Dorsey removed one mortar 
from the Hopi site of Awatovi in 1899. Three objects consisting of two 
awls and a string of shell and stone beads were excavated by Jesse A. 
Burt in 1899-1900 from Homolovi I and II. During two separate 
excavations, Charles Owen removed eighteen objects from several sites 
on the Hopi reservation in 1901. Based on consultation, academic 
research, and Museum records, Homolovi I and II are affiliated with the 
Hopi Tribe of Arizona and the Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New 
Mexico. There is no known presence of any potentially hazardous 
substances used to treat any of the cultural items.

Determinations

    The Field Museum has determined that:
     The 42 unassociated funerary objects described in this 
notice are 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 objects have 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.
     There is a connection between the cultural items described 
in this notice

[[Page 23703]]

and the Hopi Tribe of Arizona and the Zuni Tribe of the Zuni 
Reservation, New Mexico.

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 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 July 7, 2025. If competing requests for 
repatriation are received, the Field Museum 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 Field 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: May 21, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-10134 Filed 6-3-25; 8:45 am]
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