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 Virginia Museum of Fine Arts 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 object of cultural patrimony is a pair of beaded moccasins. The museum's records indicate that they were made in the 19th century and are culturally affiliated with one of the Ute Tribes. The moccasins were purchased by Robert and Nancy Nooter from an antiquities business known as Mystic Warriors owned and operated by Bruce and Ilene Johnson in Evergreen, Colorado. Robert and Nancy Nooter likely purchased the moccasins from Mystic Warriors during the Historic Indian & World Tribal Arts show in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 2005. The moccasins were accessioned into the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts collection in 2016. It is not currently known when, under what circumstances, or from whom Mystic Warriors acquired the moccasins. Results of consultation with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe confirm that the moccasins are an object of cultural patrimony belonging to the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. Further, consultation confirmed that the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts does not have the right of possession to the moccasins, as the Southern Ute Indian Tribe would not have willingly alienated them from the Tribe. To the museum's knowledge, no potentially hazardous substances have been used to treat the moccasins.

Determinations

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts has determined that:

• The one object of cultural patrimony described in this notice has ongoing historical, traditional, or ( printed page 60404) 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 item described in this notice and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe of the Southern Ute Reservation, Colorado.

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 October 23, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts 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 Virginia Museum of Fine Arts 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.

91 FR 60403