Gilcrease Museum to Return Sacred 1963 Fire Stick to Native Descendants
Published Date: 11/17/2025
Notice
Summary
The Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa plans to return a sacred fire stick used in a 1963 Sac and Fox Nation ceremony to its rightful Native American descendant. This important repatriation can happen starting December 17, 2025, and anyone with a strong family connection can request the item. No money changes hands, but this move honors Native traditions and respects cultural heritage.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Museum to Return Sacred 1963 Fire Stick
The Gilcrease Museum intends to return a sacred fire stick used in a 1963 Sac and Fox Nation naming ceremony to a known lineal descendant. The repatriation may occur on or after December 17, 2025.
Who Can Request the Item
Any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in the notice may submit a written request for the sacred fire stick if they show by a preponderance of the evidence that they are a lineal descendant or are culturally affiliated.
How To Submit a Request
Requests for repatriation must be sent in writing to Laura Bryant, Gilcrease Museum, 1400 N Gilcrease Museum Road, Tulsa, OK 74127, or by email to the address listed in the notice. Repatriation may occur on or after December 17, 2025.
Competing and Joint Request Rules
If competing requests for the item are received, the Gilcrease Museum must determine the most appropriate requestor before repatriation; requests for joint repatriation are treated as a single request.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-04606, Alaska; Hunting and Trapping in National Preserves
The National Park Service wants to update hunting and trapping rules in Alaska’s national preserves to bring back long-standing practices that support state-authorized wildlife harvests and public access. These changes affect hunters, trappers, and anyone using Alaska park lands, aiming to balance conservation with local traditions. You’ve got until April 9, 2026, to share your thoughts—no new fees or costs are expected.
2026-22736, Agency Information Collection Activities; National Park Service Concessioner Services Customer Satisfaction Survey
The National Park Service wants to start a new survey to see how happy visitors are with services from park concessioners, like gift shops and food vendors. They’re asking for public feedback on this plan by December 9, 2026. This helps make sure the survey is useful without causing too much hassle or cost for anyone involved.
2026-22670, National Register of Historic Places; Notification of Pending Nominations and Related Actions
The National Park Service is asking for your thoughts on historic places nominated before October 24, 2026, to be added to the National Register of Historic Places. If you care about preserving history, now’s your chance to comment by November 23, 2026. This affects communities, historians, and anyone who loves landmarks, with no costs involved—just your voice!
2026-22422, National Register of Historic Places; Notification of Pending Nominations and Related Actions
The National Park Service is inviting everyone to share their thoughts on historic places nominated before October 10, 2026, for the National Register of Historic Places. If you care about preserving cool old buildings or neighborhoods, now’s your chance to speak up by November 18, 2026. This process helps decide which spots get official recognition, but it doesn’t cost you anything to join in!
2026-22325, Notice of Intent To Extend and Continue Concession Contracts and Award a Temporary Concession Contract
The National Park Service is extending and continuing some current concession contracts and will award one temporary contract to keep visitor services running smoothly while new contracts are being set up. This means no interruptions for park visitors, and the changes will take effect on specific dates listed by the NPS. These moves don’t guarantee any new contract rights but keep things running without a hitch.
2026-21222, Denali National Park and Preserve; Vehicle Use
Starting November 16, 2026, Denali National Park will officially limit the number of vehicles on the restricted part of Denali Park Road to 160 per day during the busy visitor season (from just before Memorial Day to after Labor Day). This change helps keep the park enjoyable and less crowded for everyone. Visitors planning trips during this time should be ready for this new vehicle cap, but no extra fees are involved.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-19960, Notice of Inventory Completion: Bixby Memorial Free Library, Vergennes, VT
The Bixby Memorial Free Library in Vermont has finished checking its collection and found two Native American human remains linked to the Stockbridge-Munsee Tribe. Starting December 17, 2025, these remains can be returned to the tribe. This is a respectful step to honor Native American heritage, with no costs or risks involved for the public.
Next: 2025-19962, Notice of Intended Repatriation: Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA
Sonoma State University plans to return 207 Native American cultural items, like obsidian tools, to the tribes they belong to starting December 17, 2025. These items were collected from several sites in Sonoma County and have been kept at the university since the late 1970s and early 1980s. This repatriation respects Native American heritage and follows important federal laws, with no costs mentioned for the public.