[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 155 (Thursday, August 14, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39218-39219]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-15397]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[N6406; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0040801; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intended Repatriation: U.S. Department of the Interior, 
National Park Service, Pipestone National Monument, Pipestone, MN

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 U.S. Department of the Interior, 
National Park Service, Pipestone National Monument (PIPE) intends to 
repatriate a certain cultural item that meets the definition of sacred 
object and that has a known lineal descendant.

DATES: Repatriation of the cultural item in this notice may occur on or 
after September 15, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the 
cultural item in this notice to Lauren Blacik, Superintendent, 
Pipestone National Monument, 36 Reservation Avenue, Pipestone, MN 
56164, 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 
Pipestone National Monument Superintendent and additional information 
on the determinations in this notice, including the results of 
consultation, can be found in the summary or related records.

Abstract of Information Available

    A total of one cultural item has been requested for repatriation. 
The one sacred object is a ceremonial pipe. A pipe consisting of two 
parts, the bowl and stem, carved in the early 1970s by [Robert Crooks,] 
a member of the Mdewakanton Sioux Community. The bowl is a carved 
`Indian Head' design into pipestone (catlinite). The stem is sumac and 
decorated with beadwork and leather fringe.

Determinations

    PIPE has determined that:
     The one sacred object described in this notice is a 
specific ceremonial object 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,

[[Page 39219]]

Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization.
     A known lineal descendant (name withheld per request) is 
connected to the cultural item described in this notice.

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 September 15, 2025. If competing requests for 
repatriation are received, PIPE 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. PIPE is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to all 
requestors and 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: July 31, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-15397 Filed 8-13-25; 8:45 am]
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