Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Rochester Museum & Science Center, Rochester, NY, 11680 [2013-03660]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• National Park Service

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 33 (Tuesday, February 19, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 11680]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-03660]



[[Page 11680]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-12142; 2200-1100-665]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Rochester Museum & 
Science Center, Rochester, NY

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Rochester Museum & Science Center, in consultation with 
the appropriate Indian tribe, has determined that the cultural items 
listed meet the definition of sacred objects and objects 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 Rochester Museum & Science Center.

DATES: Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes it has a 
cultural affiliation with the cultural items should contact the 
Rochester Museum & Science Center at the above address by March 21, 
2013.

ADDRESSES: George C. McIntosh, Director of Collections, Rochester 
Museum & Science Center, 657 East Ave., Rochester, NY 14607, telephone 
(585) 697-1906.

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 six cultural items in the 
possession of the Rochester Museum & Science Center that meet the 
definitions of sacred objects and 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 
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.

History and Description of the Cultural Items

    Traditional religious leaders from the Tonawanda Band of Seneca 
(previously listed as the Tonawanda Band of Seneca Indians of New York) 
have identified six wampum items as being needed for the practice of 
traditional Native American religions by present-day adherents. In the 
course of consultations with tribal NAGPRA representatives, it was 
shown that individuals who sold or donated the wampum items did not 
have the authority to alienate them to a third party or sell them 
directly to the Rochester Museum & Science Center. Museum 
documentation, supported by oral evidence presented during 
consultation, indicates that the following six wampum items are 
culturally affiliated with the Tonawanda Band of Seneca (previously 
listed as the Tonawanda Band of Seneca Indians of New York):
    (1) Invitation wampum, tally stick with 11 notches cut into it with 
four attached strands of purple and white shell bead wampum, collected 
by James P. Ditmars, Geneva, NY and purchased by George S. Conover, 
AE145/27.89.8;
    (2) Council wampum composed of three strands of white glass and 
purple and white shell beads collected by Arthur C. Parker on the 
Tonawanda Reservation, AE2050/30.376.22;
    (3) ``Name Necklace'' wampum composed of a 34 inch-long single 
strand of predominantly purple with several white shell beads collected 
by Laura Parker Doctor on the Tonawanda Reservation, AE2051/29.288.2;
    (4) Condolence wampum composed of 16 strands of purple and white 
shell beads, ``used by Iroquois council in raising up civil chiefs,'' 
collected by Everett R. Burmaster on the Tonawanda Reservation and 
purchased by Arthur C. Parker in 1934, AE2525/34.149.1;
    (5) Council wampum composed of seven 18 inch-long strands of purple 
and white shell beads tied to a section of buckskin by a few pieces of 
red ribbon decorated with white glass beads, purchased from Robert 
Tahamont by Arthur C. Parker in 1935, and museum records state the 
wampum was from ``village of Big Kettle, descendant of Sappy Jones'' 
and ``[t]he string traveled from Jones Bridge to Mt Morris,'' AE2960/
35.173.1; and
    (6) Gaiwiyo wampum, composed of 11-inch strands of white and purple 
shell beads collected by Arthur C. Parker on the Tonawanda Reservation 
in 1934, and museum records state ``[u]sed by Indian Priest in 
preaching code of Handsome Lake,'' AE 2970/34.163.1.

Determination Made by the Rochester Museum & Science Center

    Officials of the Rochester Museum & Science Center have determined 
that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), the six 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), the six 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 sacred 
objects and objects of cultural patrimony and the Tonawanda Band of 
Seneca (previously listed as the Tonawanda Band of Seneca Indians of 
New York).

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the sacred objects and objects of 
cultural patrimony should contact George C McIntosh, Director of 
Collections, Rochester Museum & Science Center, 657 East Ave., 
Rochester, NY 14607, telephone (585) 697-1906 before March 21, 2013. 
Repatriation of the sacred objects and objects of cultural patrimony to 
the Tonawanda Band of Seneca (previously listed as the Tonawanda Band 
of Seneca Indians of New York) may proceed after that date if no 
additional claimants come forward.
    The Rochester Museum & Science Center is responsible for notifying 
the Tonawanda Band of Seneca (previously listed as the Tonawanda Band 
of Seneca Indians of New York) that this notice has been published.

    Dated: January 17, 2013.
Melanie O'Brien,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2013-03660 Filed 2-15-13; 8:45 am]
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