Notice of Intended Repatriation: Dayton Society of Natural History, Dayton, OH

[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 73 (Thursday, April 16, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 20491]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-07383]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[N7080; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0042597; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intended Repatriation: Dayton Society of Natural 
History, Dayton, OH

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and 
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Dayton Society of Natural History (DSNH) 
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 18, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the 
cultural items in this notice to Tracey Tomme, President & CEO, the 
Dayton Society of Natural History, 2600 DeWeese Parkway, Dayton, OH 
45414, email ttomme@booshoftmuseum.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 
DSNH, 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 three cultural items have been requested for 
repatriation. The three sacred objects consist of two lei niho palaoa 
and one niho palaoa. They are identified as catalog number A-0983, Lei 
Niho Palaoa (whale tooth pendant necklace); catalog number A-0984, Lei 
Niho Palaoa (whale tooth pendant necklace); and catalog number A-0994, 
Niho Palaoa (whale tooth pendant). All three items are part of 
Accession 53-49 and were donated to the Dayton Society of Natural 
History (DSNH) in 1949 by Brother Walter Roesch of the University of 
Dayton. Brother Roesch taught in elementary schools in Baltimore, 
Maryland; Honolulu, Hawaii; and San Francisco, California between 1937 
and 1946. Although exact dates are not fully documented, records 
indicate that in 1942 he transferred from St. Anthony School in 
Wailuku, Maui, to St. Louis College in Honolulu. In 1946, he joined the 
library staff at the University of Dayton. While there is no direct 
documentation regarding the acquisition of these items, it is believed 
they were obtained during Brother Roesch's time in Hawaii. This 
interpretation is based on his documented presence there.

Determinations

    The DSNH has determined that:
    •  The three sacred objects described in this notice are 
specific ceremonial objects needed by a traditional Native Hawaiian 
religious leader for present-day adherents to practice traditional 
Native Hawaiian religion, according to the Native Hawaiian 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[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 18, 2026. If competing requests for 
repatriation are received, the DSNH 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 DSNH 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. 2026-07383 Filed 4-15-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P