# 2025-19961: Gilcrease Museum to Return Sacred 1963 Fire Stick to Native Descendants

2025-19961, Notice of Intended Repatriation: Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa, OK, is a Federal Register notice from Interior Department, National Park Service published 2025-11-17, effective 2025-12-17 (as of 2026-06-08).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-19961
- As of: 2026-06-08
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2025-19961
- Title: Notice of Intended Repatriation: Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa, OK
- Type: Notice
- Agencies: Interior Department; National Park Service
- Citation: 90 FR 51405
- Published: 2025-11-17
- Effective: 2025-12-17
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: no
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-06-08

## In one line

Gilcrease Museum to Return Sacred 1963 Fire Stick to Native Descendants

## 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.

## Abstract

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Gilcrease Museum intends to repatriate a certain cultural item that meets the definition of a sacred object and that has a known lineal descendant.

## Effects PRIA read

- Museum to Return Sacred 1963 Fire Stick: benefit, low. 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: benefit, low. 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: benefit, low. 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: mixed, low. 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.

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## Sources
- [2025-19961 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/11/17/2025-19961/notice-of-intended-repatriation-gilcrease-museum-tulsa-ok)
- [2025-19961 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-11-17/pdf/2025-19961.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2025-19960, Notice of Inventory Completion: Bixby Memorial Free Library, Vergennes, VT](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-19960)
- [Next: 2025-19962, Notice of Intended Repatriation: Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-19962)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-19961 (as of 2026-06-08).