[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 4 (Wednesday, January 7, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 530-531]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-00063]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[N6832; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0041693; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intended Repatriation: Wilson Museum, Castine, ME

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 Wilson Museum intends to repatriate 
certain cultural items that meet the definition of sacred 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 February 6, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the 
cultural items in this notice to Abby Dunham, Wilson Museum, PO Box 
196, 120 Perkins Street, Castine, ME 04421, 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 
Wilson 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 eight cultural items has been requested for repatriation 
consisting of eight sacred objects.
    One sacred object is a pair of beaded moccasins acquired by Helen 
Bemis Hovey in Arizona ca. 1910-1920, donated to the museum by Nancy 
Angers in 1985.
    One sacred object is a pair of beaded and quilled hide medicine 
bags acquired by Helen Bemis Hovey in Arizona ca. 1910-1920, donated by 
Nancy Angers in 1985.
    One sacred object is a quilled and beaded cradle hood acquired by 
Helen Bemis Hovey in Arizona ca. 1910-1920, donated by Nancy Angers in 
1985.
    Two sacred objects are beaded cradleboard covers, possibly acquired 
by Dr. Carlotta Maury ca. 1893 at an unknown location in the Plains 
region.
    One sacred object is a hide and horsehair rattle, collected by an 
unknown individual at an unknown date and location, identified in 
museum records as ``Plains Indian (Sioux).''
    One sacred object is a beaded and quilled hide pipe bag, collected 
by an unknown individual at an unknown date and location.
    One sacred object is a beaded and quilled knife sheath acquired by 
Helen Bemis Hovey in Arizona ca. 1910-1920, donated by Nancy Angers in 
1985.

Determinations

    The Wilson Museum has determined that:
     The eight sacred objects described in this notice are 
specific ceremonial objects 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, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian 
organization.
     There is a connection between the cultural items described 
in this notice and the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck 
Indian Reservation, Montana.

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 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 items in this notice to a requestor 
may occur on or after February 6, 2026. If competing requests for 
repatriation are received, the Wilson 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 Wilson 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.


[[Page 531]]


    Dated: December 18, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-00063 Filed 1-6-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P