Notice of Intent to Repatriate a Cultural Item: Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield, MA, 31513 [05-10806]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 104 / Wednesday, June 1, 2005 / Notices Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with the human remains should contact Nell Murphy, Director of Cultural Resources, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY 10024–5192, telephone (212) 769–5837, before July 1, 2005. Repatriation of the human remains to the Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation of Montana may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come forward. The American Museum of Natural History is responsible for notifying Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation of Montana that this notice has been published. Dated: May 20, 2005 Paul Hoffman, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Fish and Wildlife and Parks. [FR Doc. 05–10819 Filed 5–31–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4312–50–S DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service Notice of Intent to Repatriate a Cultural Item: Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield, MA National Park Service, Interior. Notice. AGENCY: ACTION: 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 a cultural item in the possession of the Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield, MA, that meets the definition of ‘‘sacred object’’ and ‘‘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 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 cultural items. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice. The cultural item is a clay pipe bowl. The 4–inch x 1.25–inch pipe bowl is a brown-gray ceramic cylindrical tube with a tapered end and bent at a 120 degree angle 1 inch from the flared end; both ends of the pipe are chipped, revealing dark gray ceramic material with flecks of white temper. It was excavated in 1863 from an unknown site in Pittsfield, Berkshire County, MA, by S.L. Werden and given to the Berkshire Museum on an unknown date. It was found in the collection in 1992. Tribal representatives identified the clay pipe VerDate jul<14>2003 16:22 May 30, 2005 Jkt 205001 bowl as an instrument belonging to the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians (now known as the StockbridgeMunsee Community, Wisconsin). The bowl has been dated to the Late Woodland period (circa A.D. 1000– 1580). Representatives of the StockbridgeMunsee Community, Wisconsin indicated during consultation that this cultural item is a specific ceremonial object needed for the continuation of traditions and rituals within the tribe. Throughout Mohican Indian history, pipe bowls of this type have been used to seal peace treaties between rival groups, as religious offerings to higher spirits, and as funerary gifts to the deceased. Officials of the Berkshire Museum have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(C), the cultural item is a specific ceremonial object needed by traditional Native American religious leaders for the practice of traditional Native American religions by their present-day adherents, and that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(D), the cultural item has ongoing historical, traditional or cultural importance central to the Native American group or culture itself, rather than property owned by an individual. Officials of the Berkshire Museum also have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S. C. 3001 (2), there is a relationship of shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the sacred object/cultural patrimony and the Stockbridge-Munsee Community, Wisconsin. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with the sacred object/cultural patrimony should contact Nezka Pfeifer, Collections Manager, Berkshire Museum, 39 South Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201, telephone (413) 443–7171, before July 1, 2005. Repatriation of the sacred object/cultural patrimony to the Stockbridge-Munsee Community, Wisconsin may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come forward. The Berkshire Museum is responsible for notifying the Stockbridge-Munsee Community, Wisconsin that this notice has been published. Dated: May 20, 2005. Paul Hoffman, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Fish and Wildlife and Parks. [FR Doc. 05–10806 Filed 5–31–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4312–50–S PO 00000 Frm 00103 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 31513 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review Committee Findings and Recommendations Regarding a Dispute Between Hui Malama I Na Kupuna O Hawai’i Nei and the Bishop Museum National Park Service, Interior. Notice. AGENCY: ACTION: SUMMARY: At a March 13–15, 2005, public meeting in Honolulu, HI, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review Committee (Review Committee) considered a dispute between Hui Malama I Na Kupuna O Hawai’i Nei and the Bishop Museum. The dispute focused on the disposition of carved sandstone blocks from the Island of Moloka’i known as Kalaina Wawae that are under the control of the Bishop Museum. The Review Committee recommended that the Bishop Museum and Hui Malama o Mo’omomi work together to revise expeditiously the current memorandum of agreement to require the consent of Hui Malama o Mo’omomi prior to the removal of the Kalaina Wawae from the Island of Molokai. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 9, 1999, the Bishop Museum published a Notice of Intent to Repatriate in the Federal Register. The notice identified three sandstone blocks containing carved footprints, also known as Kalaina Wawae, as objects of cultural patrimony culturally affiliated with Hui Malama I Na Kupuna O Hawai’i Nei. On March 4, 2003, the Bishop Museum and Hui Malama O Mo’omomi signed a memorandum of agreement to place the Kalaina Wawae at Mo’omomi, Island of Moloka’i. Hand written at the bottom of the memorandum of agreement is the following: ‘‘Signed under protest because Hui Malama I Na Kupuna O Hawai’i Nei was removed from this agreement without explanation by Bishop Museum to any of the parties. This act demonstrates a lack of respect on the part of the museum.’’ The Kalaina Wawae were moved to Mo’omomi on the Island of Moloka’i. On November 3, 2003, the Bishop Museum published a correction in the Federal Register rescinding the April 9, 1999, notice. The correction states that the Bishop Museum does not intend to repatriate the Kalaina Wawae to the Native Hawaiian organizations that previously presented claims. On November 29, 2004, Hui Malama I Na Kupuna O Hawai’i Nei requested E:\FR\FM\01JNN1.SGM 01JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 104 (Wednesday, June 1, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 31513]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-10806]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate a Cultural Item: Berkshire Museum, 
Pittsfield, MA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 a cultural item in the possession of the Berkshire 
Museum, Pittsfield, MA, that meets the definition of ``sacred object'' 
and ``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 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 cultural 
items. The National Park Service is not responsible for the 
determinations in this notice.
    The cultural item is a clay pipe bowl. The 4-inch x 1.25-inch pipe 
bowl is a brown-gray ceramic cylindrical tube with a tapered end and 
bent at a 120 degree angle 1 inch from the flared end; both ends of the 
pipe are chipped, revealing dark gray ceramic material with flecks of 
white temper. It was excavated in 1863 from an unknown site in 
Pittsfield, Berkshire County, MA, by S.L. Werden and given to the 
Berkshire Museum on an unknown date. It was found in the collection in 
1992. Tribal representatives identified the clay pipe bowl as an 
instrument belonging to the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians 
(now known as the Stockbridge-Munsee Community, Wisconsin). The bowl 
has been dated to the Late Woodland period (circa A.D. 1000-1580).
    Representatives of the Stockbridge-Munsee Community, Wisconsin 
indicated during consultation that this cultural item is a specific 
ceremonial object needed for the continuation of traditions and rituals 
within the tribe. Throughout Mohican Indian history, pipe bowls of this 
type have been used to seal peace treaties between rival groups, as 
religious offerings to higher spirits, and as funerary gifts to the 
deceased.
    Officials of the Berkshire Museum have determined that, pursuant to 
25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(C), the cultural item is a specific ceremonial 
object needed by traditional Native American religious leaders for the 
practice of traditional Native American religions by their present-day 
adherents, and that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(D), the cultural 
item has ongoing historical, traditional or cultural importance central 
to the Native American group or culture itself, rather than property 
owned by an individual. Officials of the Berkshire Museum also have 
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S. C. 3001 (2), there is a 
relationship of shared group identity that can be reasonably traced 
between the sacred object/cultural patrimony and the Stockbridge-Munsee 
Community, Wisconsin.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the sacred object/cultural patrimony 
should contact Nezka Pfeifer, Collections Manager, Berkshire Museum, 39 
South Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201, telephone (413) 443-7171, before 
July 1, 2005. Repatriation of the sacred object/cultural patrimony to 
the Stockbridge-Munsee Community, Wisconsin may proceed after that date 
if no additional claimants come forward.
    The Berkshire Museum is responsible for notifying the Stockbridge-
Munsee Community, Wisconsin that this notice has been published.

    Dated: May 20, 2005.
Paul Hoffman,
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 05-10806 Filed 5-31-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.