Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: U.S. Department of Defense, Army, Fort Sill National Historic Landmark and Museum, Fort Sill, OK, 53782 [2014-21492]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• National Park Service

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 175 (Wednesday, September 10, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 53782]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-21492]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-16303; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: U.S. Department of 
Defense, Army, Fort Sill National Historic Landmark and Museum, Fort 
Sill, OK

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Fort Sill National Historic Landmark and Museum, 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 unassociated funerary 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 Fort Sill 
National Historic Landmark and Museum. 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 Fort Sill National Historic 
Landmark and Museum at the address in this notice by October 10, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Scott A. Neel, Director, Fort Sill National Historic 
Landmark and Museum, U.S. Army Fires Center of Excellence, Fort Sill, 
OK 73503, telephone (580) 442-6570, email scott.a.neel2.civ@mail.mil.

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 Fort Sill National Historic Landmark and 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

    In 1963, 85 cultural items were removed from the gravesite of 
Stumbling Bear who was interred at the Saddle Mountain KCA Intertribal 
Cemetery in Kiowa County, OK. The remains of Stumbling Bear were 
exhumed and moved to Chief's Knoll at the Fort Sill Post Cemetery, but 
the cultural items were not reinterred with the human remains. It is 
unknown when the cultural items were given to the Fort Sill National 
Historic Landmark and Museum. Stumbling Bear was a Kiowa chief who was 
born in 1830 and died on March 14, 1903. The 85 unassociated funerary 
objects are 21 wire bracelets, 1 metal disk, 17 metal bells, 19 metal 
buttons, 4 metal rings, 1 metal chain, 3 plastic beads, 1 plastic 
button, 17 metal horse trappings, and 1 coffin hardware.

Determinations Made by the Fort Sill National Historic Landmark and 
Museum

    Officials of the Fort Sill National Historic Landmark and Museum 
have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(B), the 85 cultural items 
described in this notice 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 a 
Native American individual.
     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 Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma.

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 Dr. Scott A. Neel, Director, Fort Sill 
National Historic Landmark and Museum, U.S. Army Fires Center of 
Excellence, Fort Sill, OK 73503, telephone (580) 442-6570, email 
scott.a.neel2.civ@mail.mil, by October 10, 2014. After that date, if no 
additional claimants have come forward, transfer of control of the 
unassociated funerary objects to the Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma may 
proceed.
    The Fort Sill National Historic Landmark and Museum is responsible 
for notifying the Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma that this notice has 
been published.

    Dated: July 17, 2014.
Melanie O'Brien,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2014-21492 Filed 9-9-14; 8:45 am]
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