# 2026-11702: Museum Returns Century-Old Pipe to Tribes

2026-11702, Notice of Intended Repatriation: American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, is a Federal Register notice from Interior Department, National Park Service published 2026-06-11, effective 2026-07-13 (as of 2026-06-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-11702
- As of: 2026-06-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-11702
- Title: Notice of Intended Repatriation: American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY
- Type: Notice
- Agencies: Interior Department; National Park Service
- Citation: 91 FR 35546
- Published: 2026-06-11
- Effective: 2026-07-13
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: no
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-06-18

## In one line

Museum Returns Century-Old Pipe to Tribes

## Summary

The American Museum of Natural History plans to return seven important cultural items, including a medicine pipe, to Native American tribes starting July 13, 2026. These items have deep cultural meaning and were originally acquired over a century ago. This repatriation honors Native heritage and ensures respectful handling of these treasured objects.

## Abstract

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of objects of cultural patrimony and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

## Effects PRIA read

- Museum to Return Seven Cultural Items: benefit, medium. The American Museum of Natural History intends to repatriate seven cultural items (a medicine pipe and its wrappings) that have cultural affiliation with the Blackfeet Tribe. The repatriation may occur on or after July 13, 2026, and the items were accessioned by the Museum in 1905.
- Who Can Request Repatriation and Process: benefit, low. Lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations may submit written requests for repatriation by showing, by a preponderance of the evidence, that they are lineal descendants or culturally affiliated. If competing requests are received, the Museum must determine the most appropri…
- Handling Advisory for Potentially Hazardous Items: benefit, low. Museum records show that, in the past, potentially hazardous pesticides were applied to collections and records do not identify which objects were treated or which chemicals were used. People handling these items should follow advice from industrial hygienists or medical personnel with specialized…

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## Sources
- [2026-11702 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/06/11/2026-11702/notice-of-intended-repatriation-american-museum-of-natural-history-new-york-ny)
- [2026-11702 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-06-11/pdf/2026-11702.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-11701, Notice of Intended Repatriation: American Museum of Natural History, New York,…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-11701)
- [Next: 2026-11703, Notice of Intended Repatriation: Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee, WI](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-11703)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-11702 (as of 2026-06-18).