Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL, 27279 [2017-12292]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• National Park Service

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 113 (Wednesday, June 14, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 27279]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-12292]



[[Page 27279]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-23337; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Field Museum of 
Natural History, Chicago, IL

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Field Museum of Natural History, 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 sacred objects. 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 Field Museum of Natural History. 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 Field Museum of Natural 
History at the address in this notice by July 14, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Helen Robbins, Field Museum of Natural History, 1400 South 
Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605, telephone (312) 665-7317, email 
hrobbins@fieldmuseum.org.

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 Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL, that meet 
the definition of sacred objects under 25 U.S.C. 3001.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 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 Items

    In August of 1892, two cultural items were removed from the 
Quinault Indian Reservation in the State of Washington. Museum records 
indicate that these cultural items are Quinault in origin, and were 
collected by Reverend Myron Eells on behalf of the Washington World's 
Fair Commission for display at the World's Columbian Exposition. The 
two sacred objects are tamahnousing figures, and were accessioned by 
The Field Museum of Natural History in 1893. One sacred object is a red 
painted wooden anthropomorphic figure with rattles around its neck 
(cat. 19789). The figure represents the spirit djilo'tsanomic, who 
helped heal soul loss and would have been used by a shaman. The second 
sacred object is a cedar bark figure with attached rattles (cat. 
19645). A similar figure is described by Ronald Olson as a ``doctor of 
the setting sun.'' According to Hilary Stewart, it would have been used 
in a Salmon Ceremony. Both figures are spirit helpers that would be 
used as tamahnousing items by practitioners of the traditional Quinault 
tamahnousing religion. They are ceremonial objects that are necessary 
today for the revitalization and present-day practice of Quinault 
traditional religion.
    The Quinault are culturally affiliated with the area from which the 
sacred objects were removed. This assessment is supported by archival 
records and reports, museum records, Department of the Interior 
sources, academic sources, and correspondence with Quinault 
representatives.

Determinations Made by the Field Museum of Natural History

    Officials of the Field Museum of Natural History have determined 
that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), the two cultural items 
described above are specific ceremonial objects needed by traditional 
Native American religious leaders for the practice of traditional 
Native American religions by their present-day adherents.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the sacred 
objects and the Quinault Indian Nation (previously listed as the 
Quinault Tribe of the Quinault Reservation, Washington).

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 Helen Robbins, Field Museum of Natural 
History, 1400 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605, telephone 
(312) 665-7317, email hrobbins@fieldmuseum.org, by July 14, 2017. After 
that date, if no additional claimants have come forward, transfer of 
control of the sacred objects to the Quinault Indian Nation (previously 
listed as the Quinault Tribe of the Quinault Reservation, Washington) 
may proceed.
    The Field Museum of Natural History is responsible for notifying 
the Quinault Indian Nation (previously listed as the Quinault Tribe of 
the Quinault Reservation, Washington) that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: May 2, 2017.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2017-12292 Filed 6-13-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P