Notice of Intended Repatriation: Conner Prairie Museum, Fishers, IN
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Conner Prairie Museum intends to repatriate a certain cultural item that meets the de...
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Conner Prairie Museum intends to repatriate a certain cultural item that meets the definition of a sacred object/object of cultural patrimony and that has a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.
DATES:
Repatriation of the cultural item in this notice may occur on or after June 4, 2026.
ADDRESSES:
Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural item in this notice to Sara Schumacher, Conner Prairie Museum, 13400 Allisonville Road, Fishers, IN 46038, email
schumacher@connerprairie.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 Conner Prairie 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 one cultural item has been requested for repatriation. The one sacred object/object of cultural patrimony is
the snapping turtle rattle.
The snapping turtle rattle was acquired by Eli Lilly sometime prior to 1965. Conner Prairie Museum accessioned the rattle in 1965. There is no known presence of any hazardous substance.
Determinations
The Conner Prairie Museum has determined that:
The one sacred object/object of cultural patrimony described in this notice are, according to the Native American traditional knowledge of an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization, specific ceremonial object needed by a traditional Native American religious leader for present-day adherents to practice traditional Native
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American religion, and 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).
There is a connection between the cultural item described in this notice and the Wyandotte Nation.
Requests for Repatriation
Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural item 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 item in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after June 4, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the Conner Prairie Museum must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the cultural item are considered a single request and not competing requests. The Conner Prairie 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.