Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 25710-25711 [2016-10068]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• National Park Service

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 83 (Friday, April 29, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25710-25711]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-10068]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-20785; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Peabody Museum of 
Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, in 
consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian 
organizations, has determined that the cultural item listed in this 
notice meet the definition of a sacred object and an object of cultural 
patrimony. 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 
Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology. 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.

[[Page 25711]]


DATES: Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or 
Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
claim this cultural item should submit a written request with 
information in support of the claim to the Peabody Museum of 
Archaeology and Ethnology at the address in this notice by May 31, 
2016.

ADDRESSES: Patricia Capone, Peabody Museum of Archaeology and 
Ethnology, Harvard University, 11 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, 
telephone (617) 496-3702.

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 a cultural item under the 
control of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard 
University, Cambridge, MA, that meets the definition of a sacred object 
and an object 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 Native 
American cultural items. The National Park Service is not responsible 
for the determinations in this notice.

History and Description of the Cultural Item

    A leather war cap was collected by Henry M. Wheelwright between 
1901 and 1904 from an unknown location in the southwestern part of the 
United States. Initially, this object was part of a loan presented to 
the Peabody Museum by Ruth E. Wheelwright in 1939. The loan was 
subsequently converted to a gift in 1963. The cap is made of two 
leather pieces sewn together. It has a leather chin strap that is 
attached at two points on the bottom. A folded band of red fabric is 
applied along the bottom and is secured with a top layer of painted, 
serrated leather band sewn across the bottom. There are two cross 
symbols on the cap: A black one on one side and a red one on the 
opposite side. Underneath the red cross, the bottom edge of the cap has 
been cut in a serrated fashion. A cluster of 13 feathers are attached 
to the crown of the cap with leather thongs; the end of each feather is 
wrapped with sinew. The cap measures 13.5 x 47.5 x 41 cm (5\5/16\ x 
18\11/16\ x 16 \1/8\ in.)
    In the initial loan documentation, the cap was described as 
``Apache Southwest.'' At a later time, ``Navajo'' was added to the 
culture field on the museum catalogue card. Consultations with the 
Navajo Nation in 2013 confirmed that the item is not Navajo but is 
Western Apache. Further consultation with the White Mountain Apache 
Tribe indicate that stylistic and symbolic characteristics of this item 
are consistent with traditional Western Apache forms.
    Anthropological, historical, and oral historical evidence indicate 
that the item described above 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. 
In addition, these lines of evidence also support that this item has 
ongoing, traditional and cultural importance central to the Western 
Apache tribes and could not have been alienated, appropriated or 
conveyed by any individual tribal member at the time it was separated 
from the group.

Determinations Made by the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology

    Officials of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology have 
determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), the one cultural item 
described above 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.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(D), the one cultural item 
described above has 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 object of cultural patrimony and the San Carlos Apache 
Tribe of the San Carlos Reservation, Arizona; Tonto Apache Tribe of 
Arizona; White Mountain Apache Tribe of the Fort Apache Reservation, 
Arizona; and Yavapai-Apache Nation of the Camp Verde Indian 
Reservation, Arizona.

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 
this cultural item should submit a written request with information in 
support of the claim to Patricia Capone, Peabody Museum of Archaeology 
and Ethnology, Harvard University, 11 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 
02138, telephone (617) 496-3702, by May 31, 2016. After that date, if 
no additional claimants have come forward, transfer of control of the 
sacred object and object of cultural patrimony to the San Carlos Apache 
Tribe of the San Carlos Reservation, Arizona; Tonto Apache Tribe of 
Arizona; White Mountain Apache Tribe of the Fort Apache Reservation, 
Arizona; and Yavapai-Apache Nation of the Camp Verde Reservation, 
Arizona may proceed.
    The Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology is responsible for 
notifying the San Carlos Apache Tribe of the San Carlos Reservation, 
Arizona; Tonto Apache Tribe of Arizona; White Mountain Apache Tribe of 
the Fort Apache Reservation, Arizona; and Yavapai-Apache Nation of the 
Camp Verde Reservation, Arizona.

    Dated: April 4, 2016.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2016-10068 Filed 4-28-16; 8:45 am]
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