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 WSCHM 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 10 cultural items have been requested for repatriation. The 10 sacred objects are child's leggings, child's vests, moccasins, pipe bags, and a breastplate. Carl Eldridge Bitting collected seven items (leggings, vests, pipe bags, moccasins) affiliated with the Sioux and Plains in the 1930s and 1940s during his travels throughout the Plains as a wholesale jewelry salesman, donated to the WSCHM in 1957. One item (breastplate) collected by Fern Mead Jordan (1882-1959), wife of 19th century Kansas trading post operator James R. Mead (1836-1910) and donated to the WSCHM in 1972 by their daughter, Ignace Mead Jones. One item (moccasins) collected by unknown and donated by Mr. and Mrs. Bond Hammond in 1977. One item (moccasins) collected by Mattie Fabrique Nolley (1867-1963) at an unknown time and donated by F. Ross and Evelyn Little in 1988. The WSCHM records indicate no known hazardous substances used to treat the items.

Determinations

The WSCHM has determined that:

• The 10 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 Indian Tribe.
• There is a connection between the cultural items described in this notice and the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Montana.

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 November 30, 2026. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the WSCHM 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 WSCHM is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes 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 68556