Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items: Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Denver, CO, 5738 [E7-1965]

Download as PDF 5738 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 25 / Wednesday, February 7, 2007 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items: Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Denver, CO National Park Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice. sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES AGENCY: 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 in the possession of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Denver, CO that meet the definition of ‘‘unassociated funerary 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 cultural items. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice. The two cultural items are decorated animal bones, reportedly found with human remains. The human remains were repatriated to the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida after publication of a Notice of Inventory Completion in the Federal Register on June 7, 2004 (FR Doc 04–12661, page 31841) and a corrected Notice of Inventory Completion on December 5, 2005 (FR Doc 05–23873, pages 73261– 73262). Sometime between 1910 and 1911, the human remains came into the possession of Jesse H. Bratley. After Mr. Bratley’s death in 1948, the cultural items came into the possession of Mr. Bratley’s daughter, Hazel Bratley. In 1961, Mary W.A. Crane and Francis V. Crane purchased the cultural items from Ms. Bratley. In 1983, the Cranes donated the cultural items to the museum. Based on provenience, museum records, research, and consultation with the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, and Seminole Tribe of Florida, Dania, Big Cypress, Brighton, Hollywood & Tampa Reservations, the cultural items have been determined to be Seminole. Mr. Bratley resided in Homestead, FL, in 1910 and moved to Miami, FL, in 1911. During this time, Mr. Bratley photographed Seminole people. His records for the cultural items say that he acquired ‘‘sacral & pubic bones and some smaller ones,’’ and recorded the culture of the cultural items as ‘‘Seminole.’’ Historical and archeological evidence establish that Seminole and Miccosukee VerDate Aug<31>2005 21:36 Feb 06, 2007 Jkt 211001 people have been residents in central and southern Florida for several hundred years. In consultations, representatives of the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida; Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; and Seminole Tribe of Florida, Dania, Big Cypress, Brighton, Hollywood & Tampa Reservations confirmed their affiliation with earlier historic American Indians in Florida and indicated that the cultural items were associated with human remains of an individual that was probably one of their ancestors. This individual was repatriated to the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida. Descendants of the Seminole are members of the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida; Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; and Seminole Tribe of Florida, Dania, Big Cypress, Brighton, Hollywood & Tampa Reservations. Officials of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(B), the two cultural items described above are reasonably believed to have been placed with or near individual human remains at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony and are believed, by a preponderance of the evidence, to have been removed from a specific burial site of an Native American individual. Officials of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science 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 cultural items and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida; Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; and Seminole Tribe of Florida, Dania, Big Cypress, Brighton, Hollywood & Tampa Reservations. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with the unassociated funerary objects should contact Dr. Stephen Nash, NAGPRA Officer, Department of Anthropology, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Boulevard, Denver, CO 80205, telephone (303) 370–6056, before March 9, 2007. Repatriation of the unassociated funerary items to the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida; Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; and Seminole Tribe of Florida, Dania, Big Cypress, Brighton, Hollywood & Tampa Reservations may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come forward. The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is responsible for notifying the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida; Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; and Seminole Tribe of Florida, Dania, Big Cypress, Brighton, Hollywood & Tampa PO 00000 Frm 00064 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Reservations that this notice has been published. Dated: January 23, 2007. Sherry Hutt, Manager, National NAGPRA Program. [FR Doc. E7–1965 Filed 2–6–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4312–50–S DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review Committee Findings and Recommendations Regarding Cultural Items in the Possession of the Field Museum National Park Service, Interior. Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review Committee: Findings and Recommendations. AGENCY: ACTION: SUMMARY: At a November 3–4, 2006, public meeting in Denver, CO, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review Committee (Review Committee) considered a dispute between the White Mountain Apache Tribe and the Field Museum. The dispute focused on whether 33 items (catalogue records) in the possession or control of the Field Museum are ‘‘objects of cultural patrimony’’ and whether the Field Museum has a ‘‘right of possession’’ to them under provisions of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) [25 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.]. The Review Committee finds that, by a preponderance of the evidence, these items are ‘‘objects of cultural patrimony’’ and that the Field Museum does not have a ‘‘right of possession’’ to them. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1993, the Field Museum provided the White Mountain Apache Tribe with a summary of its Apache collections as required under provisions of NAGPRA. White Mountain Apache Tribe representatives visited the Field Museum in 1995, 1997, and 2000. On May 30, 2002, the White Mountain Apache Tribe submitted a claim to the Field Museum for 33 items (catalogue records) identified by the tribe as both sacred objects and objects of cultural patrimony. The tribe asserted that the Field Museum did not have right of possession to the 33 items. On June 20, 2003, the Field Museum responded to the White Mountain Apache Tribe’s claim. The museum concurred with the tribe’s identification of the 33 items as sacred objects. The museum did not agree with the tribe’s E:\FR\FM\07FEN1.SGM 07FEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 7, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 5738]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-1965]



[[Page 5738]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items: Denver Museum of 
Nature & Science, Denver, CO

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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    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 in the possession of the Denver Museum of 
Nature & Science, Denver, CO that meet the definition of ``unassociated 
funerary 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 cultural 
items. The National Park Service is not responsible for the 
determinations in this notice.
    The two cultural items are decorated animal bones, reportedly found 
with human remains. The human remains were repatriated to the 
Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida after publication of a Notice of 
Inventory Completion in the Federal Register on June 7, 2004 (FR Doc 
04-12661, page 31841) and a corrected Notice of Inventory Completion on 
December 5, 2005 (FR Doc 05-23873, pages 73261-73262).
    Sometime between 1910 and 1911, the human remains came into the 
possession of Jesse H. Bratley. After Mr. Bratley's death in 1948, the 
cultural items came into the possession of Mr. Bratley's daughter, 
Hazel Bratley. In 1961, Mary W.A. Crane and Francis V. Crane purchased 
the cultural items from Ms. Bratley. In 1983, the Cranes donated the 
cultural items to the museum. Based on provenience, museum records, 
research, and consultation with the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, and 
Seminole Tribe of Florida, Dania, Big Cypress, Brighton, Hollywood & 
Tampa Reservations, the cultural items have been determined to be 
Seminole. Mr. Bratley resided in Homestead, FL, in 1910 and moved to 
Miami, FL, in 1911. During this time, Mr. Bratley photographed Seminole 
people. His records for the cultural items say that he acquired 
``sacral & pubic bones and some smaller ones,'' and recorded the 
culture of the cultural items as ``Seminole.''
    Historical and archeological evidence establish that Seminole and 
Miccosukee people have been residents in central and southern Florida 
for several hundred years. In consultations, representatives of the 
Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida; Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; 
and Seminole Tribe of Florida, Dania, Big Cypress, Brighton, Hollywood 
& Tampa Reservations confirmed their affiliation with earlier historic 
American Indians in Florida and indicated that the cultural items were 
associated with human remains of an individual that was probably one of 
their ancestors. This individual was repatriated to the Miccosukee 
Tribe of Indians of Florida. Descendants of the Seminole are members of 
the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida; Seminole Nation of 
Oklahoma; and Seminole Tribe of Florida, Dania, Big Cypress, Brighton, 
Hollywood & Tampa Reservations.
    Officials of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science have determined 
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(B), the two cultural items 
described above are reasonably believed to have been placed with or 
near individual human remains at the time of death or later as part of 
the death rite or ceremony and are believed, by a preponderance of the 
evidence, to have been removed from a specific burial site of an Native 
American individual. Officials of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science 
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 cultural items and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of 
Florida; Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; and Seminole Tribe of Florida, 
Dania, Big Cypress, Brighton, Hollywood & Tampa Reservations.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the unassociated funerary objects should 
contact Dr. Stephen Nash, NAGPRA Officer, Department of Anthropology, 
Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Boulevard, Denver, CO 
80205, telephone (303) 370-6056, before March 9, 2007. Repatriation of 
the unassociated funerary items to the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of 
Florida; Seminole Nation of Oklahoma; and Seminole Tribe of Florida, 
Dania, Big Cypress, Brighton, Hollywood & Tampa Reservations may 
proceed after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
    The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is responsible for notifying 
the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida; Seminole Nation of 
Oklahoma; and Seminole Tribe of Florida, Dania, Big Cypress, Brighton, 
Hollywood & Tampa Reservations that this notice has been published.

    Dated: January 23, 2007.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E7-1965 Filed 2-6-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S

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