Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, Lakewood, CO, 13623-13624 [2012-5570]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 45 / Wednesday, March 7, 2012 / Notices srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Museum 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 Native American cultural items. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice. History and Description of the Cultural Items The following cultural items in Maxey Museum came from various collectors and sites within the Columbia River Plateau near the confluence of the Columbia and Snake rivers in Oregon and Washington. The unassociated funerary objects are: 25 stone implements; 3 pestle fragments; 2 pounding stones; 1 grooved weight; 1 grooved stone; 1 mortar; 2 pestles; 1 bone awl; and 1 lot of metal beads. The stone implements were collected at various points along the Columbia and Snake Rivers, most notably by H.T. Harding and Dr. H.S. Brode. Journals and donor records indicate these objects were collected in the following locations: ‘‘opposite the mouth of the Yakima River’’ in September 1925 and May 1928; ‘‘along the Columbia River, north of Pasco, Washington. Presented by H.S. Brode, April 14, 1929’’; and along the ‘‘Snake River, N.E. Burbank, Washington. H.S. Brode and J.C. Bunnell, 1930.’’ The bone awl was purchased by Whitman College from Mr. Clarence McBeth on January 24, 1930, and is listed as being from ‘‘an Indian grave along the Snake River in Walla Walla County, southwest of Riparia, Washington.’’ Lastly, the metal beads were taken from ‘‘an Indian grave, Tucannon Burial Ground’’ and were donated to Maxey Museum by F.G. Moor in 1944. A detailed assessment of the cultural items was made by Maxey Museum professional staff in consultation with representatives of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Washington; Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Washington; Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation, Oregon; Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon; Nez Perce Tribe, Idaho (previously listed as Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho) (hereafter referred to as ‘‘The Tribes’’); and the Wanapum Band, a non-Federally recognized Indian group (hereafter referred to as ‘‘The Indian Group’’). The Tribes and The Indian Group claim these objects as VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:40 Mar 06, 2012 Jkt 226001 unassociated funerary objects due to the provenance indicating the objects were removed from known burial sites within the Columbia River Plateau. All of the collection sites are located in close proximity to one another within the traditional territories of The Tribes and The Indian Group. The collection site opposite the mouth of the Yakima River is a burial area now known as site 45FR101, Chiawana Park. Lewis and Clark mentioned how heavily this area was populated during the fall salmon runs. Fishing stations, processing areas and villages were located on both sides of the Columbia River and at the mouth of the Yakima River (Moulton 1988) and north of Pasco, WA. A large excavation of this site occurred in 1967 by the MidColumbia Archaeology Society under the direction of Dr. David Rice. Approximately, sixteen burials were removed to a repository at Washington State University; however, some of the remains were reported to be repatriated to the Yakama Nation in 1982 (Collins et al. 2001, LaSarge 2002). Brode and Bunnell collected together in the 1930s at NE Burbank, WA, on the Snake River. Hood Park is northeast of Burbank and was heavily used as a traditional salmon fishing and processing area by The Tribes and The Indian Group (Iverson 1976; Croghan 1999; Wright 2001). Wright (2001:6) states that burials were located and removed from the day use and campground areas of the park in the mid-1970s. Erosion along the Snake River shoreline has also caused burials to be exposed from this location over the years. The Tucannon Burial Ground is congruent with Smithsonian site 45CO1, a large, heavily looted fishing station, open camp and burial site at the mouth of the Tucannon River where it joins the Snake River. The Indian grave described as southwest of Riparia, WA, is likely in the vicinity of the mouth of the Tucannon River. The Tucannon River is situated along a traditional cultural boundary between the Nez Perce Tribe and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation. Based on traditional lifeways, past and present, The Tribes and The Indian Group are direct descendant communities of the native people that jointly used the lower Snake and Columbia rivers. As aboriginal lifeways were being extinguished by EuroAmerican settlement of the Pacific Northwest, treaties were negotiated and signed with the native communities during the expansion of Washington and Oregon territories. The native peoples in these territories were removed from the shores of the Columbia and Snake rivers to the PO 00000 Frm 00095 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 13623 Colville, Umatilla, Warm Springs, Yakama and Nez Perce reservations. The Wanapum Band was removed from the rivers as well but was not put on a reservation of their own. Cultural affiliation is further reinforced by living, enrolled members of The Tribes and The Indian Group that have documented ancestors buried along the lower Snake and Columbia rivers. Determinations Made by Maxey Museum Officials of Maxey Museum have determined that: • Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(B), the 37 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 specific burial sites of Native American individuals. • Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the unassociated funerary objects and The Tribes and The Indian Group. Additional Requestors and Disposition Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with the unassociated funerary objects should contact Gary Rollefson, Maxey Museum, Whitman College, 345 Boyer Avenue, Walla Walla, WA 99362, telephone (509) 527–4938, before April 6, 2012. Repatriation of the unassociated funerary objects to The Tribes and The Indian Group may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come forward. Maxey Museum is responsible for notifying The Tribes and The Indian Group that this notice has been published. Dated: March 2, 2012. Sherry Hutt, Manager, National NAGPRA Program. [FR Doc. 2012–5581 Filed 3–6–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4312–50–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR [2253–665] National Park Service Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, Lakewood, CO National Park Service, Interior. Notice. AGENCY: ACTION: E:\FR\FM\07MRN1.SGM 07MRN1 13624 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 45 / Wednesday, March 7, 2012 / Notices The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes, has determined that the cultural items listed below meet the definition of sacred objects and/or objects of cultural patrimony and repatriation to the Indian tribes stated below may occur if no additional claimants come forward. Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with the cultural items may contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement. DATES: Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes it has a cultural affiliation with the cultural items should contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, at the address below by April 6, 2012. ADDRESSES: Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, 134 Union Blvd., Room 550, Lakewood, CO 80228, telephone (303) 236–7540. 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 eight cultural items in the possession of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, that meet the definition of sacred objects and/or 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 U.S.C. 3003(d)(3). The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice. srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: History and Description of the Cultural Items These items came into the possession and control of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Office of Law Enforcement, pursuant to a criminal investigation. The items were forfeited to the U.S. Government by the U.S. Customs Service in separate forfeiture actions in January, February and March 2001. These items were transferred to the USFWS on August 21, 2001, and the Federal criminal investigations are now complete. USFWS contracted with expert consultants to review the collection and consulted with 11 tribes having interest or affiliation in the objects. Three tribes filed claims requesting repatriation of objects from the collection. Upon VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:40 Mar 06, 2012 Jkt 226001 review, the USFWS determined that three objects of cultural patrimony and five sacred objects are subject to repatriation to the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Montana. The five sacred objects include Items 42 and 43: two rattles, Item 26: Imosna, deer dew claws (Bandoleer), and Items 5 and 70: two splithorn headdresses, one with a trailer. The three objects of cultural patrimony include Item 11: notched warrior’s dance whip or wand, Item 18: Napeshi spear or dance spear, and Item 41: notched warrior’s dance whip or quirt. Items 5 and 70 (splithorn headdresses) are both sacred objects and objects of cultural patrimony. Determinations Made by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the USFWS have determined that: • Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), three of the 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(3)(D), three of the 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(3)(C) and 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(D), two of the 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, and 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 eight cultural objects and the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Montana. Additional Requestors and Disposition Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these sacred objects and/ or objects of cultural patrimony should contact the Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, 134 Union Blvd., Room 550, Lakewood, CO 80228, telephone (303) 236–7540, April 6, PO 00000 Frm 00096 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 2012. Repatriation of the sacred objects and/or objects of cultural patrimony to the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Montana may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come forward. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, Lakewood, CO, is responsible for notifying the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Montana that this notice has been published. Dated: March 2, 2012. Sherry Hutt, Manager, National NAGPRA Program. [FR Doc. 2012–5570 Filed 3–6–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4312–50–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service [2253–665] Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, Lakewood, CO National Park Service, Interior. Notice. AGENCY: ACTION: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribe, has determined that the cultural items listed below meet the definition of sacred objects and object of cultural patrimony and repatriation to the Indian tribe stated below may occur if no additional claimants come forward. Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with the cultural items may contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement. DATES: Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes it has a cultural affiliation with the cultural items should contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, at the address below by April 6, 2012. ADDRESSES: Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, 134 Union Blvd., Room 550, Lakewood, CO 80228, telephone (303) 236–7540. 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 27 cultural items in the possession of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, that meet the definition of sacred objects and object of SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\07MRN1.SGM 07MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 45 (Wednesday, March 7, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13623-13624]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-5570]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[2253-665]

National Park Service


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, Lakewood, CO

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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[[Page 13624]]

SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, 
in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes, has determined that 
the cultural items listed below meet the definition of sacred objects 
and/or objects of cultural patrimony and repatriation to the Indian 
tribes stated below may occur if no additional claimants come forward. 
Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with the cultural items may contact the U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement.

DATES: Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes it has a 
cultural affiliation with the cultural items should contact the U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, at the address 
below by April 6, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
Office of Law Enforcement, 134 Union Blvd., Room 550, Lakewood, CO 
80228, telephone (303) 236-7540.

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 eight cultural items in the 
possession of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law 
Enforcement, that meet the definition of sacred objects and/or 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 U.S.C. 3003(d)(3). The 
determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement. The National Park 
Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.

History and Description of the Cultural Items

    These items came into the possession and control of the U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Office of Law Enforcement, pursuant to a 
criminal investigation. The items were forfeited to the U.S. Government 
by the U.S. Customs Service in separate forfeiture actions in January, 
February and March 2001. These items were transferred to the USFWS on 
August 21, 2001, and the Federal criminal investigations are now 
complete.
    USFWS contracted with expert consultants to review the collection 
and consulted with 11 tribes having interest or affiliation in the 
objects. Three tribes filed claims requesting repatriation of objects 
from the collection. Upon review, the USFWS determined that three 
objects of cultural patrimony and five sacred objects are subject to 
repatriation to the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck 
Indian Reservation, Montana. The five sacred objects include Items 42 
and 43: two rattles, Item 26: Imosna, deer dew claws (Bandoleer), and 
Items 5 and 70: two splithorn headdresses, one with a trailer. The 
three objects of cultural patrimony include Item 11: notched warrior's 
dance whip or wand, Item 18: Napeshi spear or dance spear, and Item 41: 
notched warrior's dance whip or quirt. Items 5 and 70 (splithorn 
headdresses) are both sacred objects and objects of cultural patrimony.

Determinations Made by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of 
Law Enforcement

    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the USFWS 
have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), three of the 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(3)(D), three of the 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(3)(C) and 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(D), 
two of the 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, and 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 eight 
cultural objects and the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck 
Indian Reservation, Montana.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with these sacred objects and/or objects of 
cultural patrimony should contact the Special Agent in Charge, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, 134 Union Blvd., 
Room 550, Lakewood, CO 80228, telephone (303) 236-7540, April 6, 2012. 
Repatriation of the sacred objects and/or objects of cultural patrimony 
to the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian 
Reservation, Montana may proceed after that date if no additional 
claimants come forward.
    The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, 
Lakewood, CO, is responsible for notifying the Assiniboine and Sioux 
Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Montana that this notice 
has been published.

    Dated: March 2, 2012.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2012-5570 Filed 3-6-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-P

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