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 one cultural item have been requested for repatriation. The one sacred object is a shield. This shield was collected ty Finlay Ross (1847-1933) and donated to the WSCHM in 1939 by his widow, Ella Fuller Ross. This shield is associated with the Anadarko Affair, also known as the Battle of the Wichita ( printed page 68556) Agency, a conflict between the Comanche and Kiowa tribes against the Agency. A 1930 article published in the “Wichita Beacon” newspaper mentioning both the shield and battle stated, “The battle at the Wichita agency is commemorated by a beautiful round shield. . . belonging to Mr. Finlay Ross.” The article further states that Ross “took it from the Comanche village after it was captured by the calvary . . . .” This provenance is further supported by the WSCHM accession ledger, stating, “Shield captured at battle . . . Anadarko Indian Territory between US Troops, Civilians, and Comanche Indians August 22, 1874.” The WSCHM records indicate no known hazardous substances used to treat the item.

Determinations

The WSCHM has determined that:

• The one sacred object described in this notice is a specific ceremonial object 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 an Indian Tribe.
• There is a connection between the cultural item described in this notice and the Comanche Nation, Oklahoma.

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 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 item 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 68555