Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Denver, CO, 40800 [2017-18184]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• National Park Service

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 165 (Monday, August 28, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 40800]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-18184]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-23693; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


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

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 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 sacred objects and objects 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 Denver Museum of 
Nature & Science. 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 Denver Museum of Nature & 
Science at the address in this notice by September 27, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Chip Colwell, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 
Colorado Boulevard, Denver, CO 80205, telephone (303) 370-6378, email 
chip.colwell@dmns.org.

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 Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Denver, CO, that meet 
the definition 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 Native 
American cultural items. The National Park Service is not responsible 
for the determinations in this notice.

History and Description of the Cultural Item(s)

    Prior to 1964, 10 cultural items were removed from The Pueblo of 
Acoma in Cibola County, NM. The 10 sacred objects and objects of 
cultural patrimony include one Katsina Uuwaa'ka (AC.6501), collected by 
Byron Harvey III, a great grandson of Fred Harvey; one Katsina Uuwaa'ka 
(AC.7696), collected by the Taos Book Shop; one Katsina Uuwaa'ka 
(AC.4820), collected by William S. Dutton of La Posada Gift Shop; one 
ceremonial pot (AC.118), used to keep ceremonial paint and to collect 
rain water to make ceremonial medicine for curing ceremonies, collected 
by Erich Kohlberg of Kohlberg's Antiques and Indian Arts; two 
ceremonial pots (AC.2278 and AC.2279), used in kivas for ceremony, 
collected by Julius Gans, of Southwest Arts and Crafts in Santa Fe, NM; 
and four prayer sticks (AC.4809A, AC.4809C, AC4809D, and AC.4809E), 
collected by William S. Dutton of La Posada Gift Shop. All of the 
cultural objects were purchase by Mary and Francis Crane between 1954 
and 1964. The Cranes then donated nine of the items to DMNS on May 27, 
1983. The ceremonial pot (AC.118) was donated to DMNS in November of 
1972.
    Cultural affiliation was established through documentation, 
consultation, and notification procedures undertaken by Damian Garcia 
and Aaron Sims, and corroborated by the DMNS's accession documentation, 
showing cultural affiliation with the Pueblo of Acoma.

Determinations Made by the Denver Museum of Nature & Science

    Officials of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science have determined 
that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), the 10 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 10 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 Pueblo of Acoma.

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 Chip Colwell, Denver Museum of Nature & 
Science, 2001 Colorado Boulevard, Denver, CO 80205, telephone (303) 
370-6378, email chip.colwell@dmns.org, by September 27, 2017. After 
that date, if no additional claimants have come forward, transfer of 
control of the sacred objects and objects of cultural patrimony to the 
Pueblo of Acoma may proceed.
    The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is responsible for notifying 
the Pueblo of Acoma that this notice has been published.

    Dated: July 5, 2017.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2017-18184 Filed 8-25-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P