NAGPRA Repatriation: Field Museum Chicago 41 Cultural Items

Notice

Notice of Intended Repatriation: Field Museum, Chicago, IL

A Notice by the National Park Service on 04/16/2026

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• Public Inspection Published Document: 2026-07389 (91 FR 20481) Document Headings ###### Department of the Interior

National Park Service

1. [N7087; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042608; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]

AGENCY:

National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice.

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, sacred objects, and/or objects of cultural patrimony 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 18, 2026.

ADDRESSES:

Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to June Carpenter, Field Museum, 1400 S Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605, email jcarpenter@fieldmuseum.org.

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 41 cultural items have been requested for repatriation.

The one unassociated funerary object is a basket. The six sacred objects are a mortar, a pestle, tobacco, angelica root, snuff and salt grass, and medicine. The 34 objects of cultural patrimony are 19 baskets, a brush, an arrow plane, a necklace, a gorget, a pair of moccasins, a bow, a lot of arrows, a mortar, a mortar and pestle, two pestles, a pipe, two lots of stone tools, and tobacco. In early 1901, the cultural items were removed from Kern County in California. The items were collected by Dr. John Hudson on behalf of the Field Museum during a two-year expedition among the Native populations of California and accessioned by the Museum later in 1901.

Determinations

The Field Museum has determined that:

• The one unassociated funerary object described in this notice is reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with or near human remains, and is 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 object has 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.
• 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.
• The 34 objects of cultural patrimony described in this notice have ongoing historical, traditional, or cultural importance central to the Native American group, including any constituent sub-group (such as a band, clan, lineage, ceremonial society, or other subdivision), according to the Native American traditional knowledge of an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.
• There is a connection between the cultural items described in this notice and the Tejon Indian Tribe.

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 18, 2026. 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: April 8, 2026.

Melanie O'Brien,

Manager, National NAGPRA Program.

[FR Doc. 2026-07389 Filed 4-15-26; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4312-52-P

Published Document: 2026-07389 (91 FR 20481)