Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 3805-3806 [2017-00510]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• National Park Service

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 8 (Thursday, January 12, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3805-3806]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-00510]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0022623;PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Arizona State 
Museum, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona, in 
consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian 
organizations, has determined that the cultural items listed in this 
notice meet the definition of objects of cultural patrimony. Lineal 
descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian 
organization not identified in this notice that wish to claim these 
cultural items should submit a written request to the Arizona State 
Museum, University of Arizona. If no additional claimants come forward, 
transfer of control of the cultural items to the lineal descendants, 
Indian tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice 
may proceed.

DATES: Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or 
Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
claim these cultural items should submit a written request with 
information in support of the claim to the Arizona State Museum, 
University of Arizona at the address in this notice by February 13, 
2017.

ADDRESSES: John McClelland, NAGPRA Coordinator, P.O. Box 210026, 
Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, 
telephone (520) 626-2950.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is here given in accordance with the 
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 
U.S.C. 3005, of the intent to repatriate cultural items under the 
control of the Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 
that meet the definition of objects of cultural patrimony under 25 
U.S.C. 3001.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25

[[Page 3806]]

U.S.C. 3003(d)(3). The determinations in this notice are the sole 
responsibility of the museum, institution, or Federal agency that has 
control of the Native American cultural items. The National Park 
Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.

History and Description of the Cultural Item(s)

    In April 1939, one cultural item was removed from the Tohono 
O'odham Reservation in the village of Sil Nakya, AZ. The one object of 
cultural patrimony is a calendar stick. Mr. and Mrs. Wetmore Hodges 
purchased the calendar stick (E-151) from Jos[eacute] Maria, the keeper 
of the stick and subsequently donated it to the Arizona State Museum.
    In the 1960s, one cultural item was removed from the Tohono O'odham 
Reservation near the village of Santa Rosa, AZ. The one object of 
cultural patrimony is a calendar stick. Mr. Donald Bahr was given the 
calendar stick (E-7310) by an unknown Tohono O'odham man, at an 
abandoned village near Santa Rosa on the Tohono O'odham Reservation. In 
1967, Mr. Bahr donated the calendar stick to the Arizona State Museum.
    Calendar sticks carried a record of social and natural events, 
which were read only by the carver. These sticks were mnemonic devices 
with carved notches to represent a year, and dots and other symbols to 
represent events during the year, as reported by ethnographers. The 
distances between each notch represent a year, which is from summer to 
summer or saguaro harvest to saguaro harvest. The notches and cuts 
represent various happenings but only the keepers of the sticks can 
read the symbols. The stick is worthless unless the keeper can 
translate it or has given information to someone. Mr. Maria translated 
the events recorded on the Sil Nakya calendar stick, which cover the 
years 1841-1939.
    While some ethnographic accounts suggested that calendar sticks 
were considered to be private property, a newspaper account of the sale 
of the Sil Nakya stick reported that there was considerable community 
opposition to the sale. Based on interviews with a Tohono O'odham Elder 
from Sil Nakya who participated in calendar stick activities as a young 
boy in the late 1930s, it seems clear that Tohono O'odham in Sil Nakya 
regarded the calendar stick as an item that could not be alienated. 
While they were taken care of by an individual, the stick belonged to 
the community. The Elder described the time of year when people in the 
community would gather for a large social event, attended by members of 
surrounding villages. Men of the communities would gather to meet with 
the calendar stick keeper and discuss what entry would be carved onto 
the calendar stick for the year. This event was attended only by men; 
women were excluded. Some debate would take place before a consensus 
decision was made as to what event of the past year would be carved on 
the calendar stick for the year. From conversations with this Elder, it 
seems clear that the calendar stick belonged to the major village 
community where the keeper lived, but also retained importance for the 
surrounding villages. A preponderance of the evidence indicates that at 
the time of the purchase, this item was considered to be a community 
resource rather than an object owned by an individual. Because the 
calendar stick records significant events in the history of the Tohono 
O'odham Nation and the community determined by consensus what was to be 
recorded, the item has historical and traditional cultural importance 
central to the tribe.

Determinations Made by the Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona

    Officials of the Arizona State Museum have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(D), the 2 cultural items 
described above have ongoing historical, traditional, or cultural 
importance central to the Native American group or culture itself, 
rather than property owned by an individual.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the objects 
of cultural patrimony and the Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native 
Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to claim 
these cultural items should submit a written request with information 
in support of the claim to John McClelland, NAGPRA Coordinator, P.O. 
Box 210026, Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 
85721, telephone (520) 626-2950, by February 13, 2017. After that date, 
if no additional claimants have come forward, transfer of control of 
the objects of cultural patrimony to Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona 
may proceed.
    The Arizona State Museum is responsible for notifying the Tohono 
O'odham Nation of Arizona that this notice has been published.

    Dated: December 20, 2016.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2017-00510 Filed 1-11-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P