Notice of Intended Repatriation: Illinois State Museum, Springfield, IL
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Illinois State Museum intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the defi...
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Illinois State Museum intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of sacred objects and that have a cultural affiliation with the Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
DATES:
Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on or after March 25, 2026.
ADDRESSES:
Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to Brooke M. Morgan, Illinois State Museum Research & Collections Center, 1011 East Ash Street, Springfield, IL 62703, email
brooke.morgan@illinois.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 Illinois State 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 four cultural items have been requested for repatriation. The four sacred objects are three sections of kapa cloth and one piece of cordage (kaula). These items were reportedly purchased on the island of O'ahu in Ke Aupuni Hawai'i (the Hawaiian Kingdom) in 1863 by Frank Rezor and donated to the
( printed page 8515)
Illinois State Museum in 1890. To our knowledge, no hazardous substances have been used to treat these objects.
Determinations
The Illinois State Museum has determined that:
The four 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 or Native Hawaiian organization.
There is a reasonable 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 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 Native Hawaiian organization.
Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after March 25, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the Illinois State 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 Illinois State Museum is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the 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.