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Notice of Intended Repatriation: Museum of Natural History

FR: Interior Department

Published March 19th, 2026

Detected March 19th, 2026

Summary

The Department of the Interior, through the National Park Service, has published a notice regarding the intended repatriation of cultural items by the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium in Providence, RI. This notice follows the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) procedures.

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What changed

The Department of the Interior, via the National Park Service, has issued a notice concerning the intended repatriation of cultural items by the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium in Providence, RI. This action is taken under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) and specifies that repatriation may occur on or after April 20, 2026. The notice serves as a formal announcement of the museum's intent to return these items.

Regulated entities, particularly museums and cultural institutions, should be aware of this notice as it pertains to NAGPRA compliance. While this specific notice concerns a single institution, it highlights ongoing repatriation efforts and the importance of adhering to NAGPRA regulations. No immediate action is required from other entities based solely on this notice, but it serves as an example of the processes involved in cultural item repatriation.

What to do next

Review NAGPRA repatriation procedures for any relevant institutional holdings.
Monitor future Federal Register notices for repatriation activities.

Source document (simplified)

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Notice

Notice of Intended Repatriation: Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Providence, RI

A Notice by the National Park Service on 03/19/2026

Document Details Published Content - Document Details Agencies Department of the Interior National Park Service Agency/Docket Numbers N7002 NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042356 PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000 Document Citation 91 FR 13325 Document Number 2026-05381 Document Type Notice Pages 13325-13326
(2 pages) Publication Date 03/19/2026 Published Content - Document Details
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Document Details Published Content - Document Details Agencies Department of the Interior National Park Service Agency/Docket Numbers N7002 NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042356 PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000 Document Citation 91 FR 13325 Document Number 2026-05381 Document Type Notice Pages 13325-13326
(2 pages) Publication Date 03/19/2026 Published Content - Document Details
Document Dates Published Content - Document Dates Dates Text Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on or after April 20, 2026. Published Content - Document Dates
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- AGENCY:
- ACTION:
- SUMMARY:
- DATES:
- ADDRESSES:
- SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
- Abstract of Information Available
- Determinations
- Requests for Repatriation Enhanced Content - Table of Contents
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- Public Inspection Public Inspection This PDF is FR Doc. 2026-05381 as it appeared on Public Inspection on
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Department of the Interior

National Park Service

[N7002; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042356; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]

AGENCY:

National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium 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 April 20, 2026.

ADDRESSES:

Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural ( printed page 13326) items in this notice to Matthew Becker, Curator of Collections, Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, 1000 Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI 02907, email mbecker@providenceri.gov.

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 Museum of Natural History and Planetarium 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 28 cultural items have been requested for repatriation. The 28 cultural items include a collection of tapa cloths and tapa decorating tools, fish hooks and lines, stone pounders, small figurines, a ukulele, a fan, a wooden spear, a bowl, and a necklace. The 28 items were donated between 1909 and 1956. The majority of the items, particularly the tapa cloths and tapa decorating tools, were received during the 1950s from Brown University and the Bishop Museum as gifts or as part of exchange. The remaining items fall into two camps: either they were singular items donated by individual collectors residing in Rhode Island, or they lack donor data entirely and are listed as “Donor Unknown.” All items are listed as being from Hawaii.

Determinations

The Museum of Natural History and Planetarium has determined that:

The 28 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 Hui Iwi Kuamo'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 April 20, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium 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 Museum of Natural History and Planetarium 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: March 11, 2026.

Melanie O'Brien,

Manager, National NAGPRA Program.

[FR Doc. 2026-05381 Filed 3-18-26; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4312-52-P

Published Document: 2026-05381 (91 FR 13325)