[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 68 (Thursday, April 9, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17991-17992]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-06828]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[N7072; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042576; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intended Repatriation: North Carolina State University, 
Gregg Museum of Art & Design, Raleigh, NC

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 Gregg Museum of Art & Design 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 May 11, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the 
cultural items in this notice to Lee Chavis-Tartaglia, North Carolina 
State University, Gregg Museum of Art & Design, 1903 Hillsborough 
Street, Campus Box 7330, Raleigh, NC 27695, 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 
Gregg Museum of Art & Design, 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 six cultural items have been requested for repatriation. 
The six mea kapu (sacred objects) are ``Polynesian tapa cloth'' kapa, 
ca. 1929, ``Hawaiian bark cloth'' kapa, ca. pre-1993, and four ``bark 
cloth samples,'' ca. pre-1993. All of these items came to the Gregg 
Museum as gifts and donations in 1986 and 1993, respectively. The 
``Polynesian tapa cloth'' kapa, accession number 1986.013.001, was 
bought by the donor in 1929. It was folded for sixty years and contains 
fragile crease lines. The ``Hawaiian bark cloth'' kapa, accession 
number 1993.018.173, as well as the ``bark cloth samples,'' were 
brought in with a larger collection from the donations of A. Harvey 
Schreter. Based on consultation with the Native Hawaiian Organization 
Hui Iwi

[[Page 17992]]

Kuamo[revaps]o, the Gregg Museum of Art & Design identifies this item 
as a sacred object of the Kingdom of Hawai[revaps]i. Gregg Museum of 
Art & Design records indicate no known hazardous substances.

Determinations

    The Gregg Museum of Art & Design has determined that:
     The six 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 reasonable connection between the cultural item 
described in this notice and the Hui Iwi Kuamo[revaps]o.

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 May 11, 2026. If competing requests for 
repatriation are received, the Gregg Museum of Art & Design 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 Gregg Museum of Art & 
Design 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: April 1, 2026.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-06828 Filed 4-8-26; 8:45 am]
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