Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL, 7764 [2018-03639]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• National Park Service

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 36 (Thursday, February 22, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 7764]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-03639]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0024993; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Field Museum of 
Natural History, Chicago, IL

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Field Museum of Natural History, 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. 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 Field Museum of Natural History. 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 Field Museum of Natural 
History at the address in this notice by March 26, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Helen Robbins, Field Museum of Natural History, 1400 South 
Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605, telephone (312) 665-7317, email 
[email protected].

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 Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL, that meet 
the definition of sacred 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 Item(s)

    In the summer of 1900, one cultural item was removed from an 
unknown location in Humboldt County, CA. Museum records indicate that 
these objects are Wiyot in origin and were collected by Stewart Culin 
for The Field Museum as part of an expedition co-sponsored by the 
Museum. Mr. Culin collected objects from what he described as an Indian 
Rancheria on the Mad River, about a mile away from Blue Lake in the 
summer of 1900. The one cultural item is a set of ``doctor's feathers'' 
that were collected from a Wiyot man named Dick, whose father had been 
a doctor. The set of doctor's feathers was accessioned by the Field 
Museum in 1900 and is represented by catalog number 60069. There are 
seven bundles of condor feathers, which have had their edges trimmed. 
Some bundles have additional smaller feathers, such as those from a 
northern flicker, and abalone shells. The feathers would have been used 
by a doctor in either a healing ceremony or as part of a religious 
ceremony, including the World Renewal Ceremony. These feathers are 
imbued and are necessary today for the revitalization and present day 
practice of Wiyot traditional religion. The Wiyot are culturally 
affiliated with the area from which the sacred objects were removed. 
This is supported by archival records and reports, museum records, 
Department of the Interior sources, academic sources, and 
correspondence with Wiyot representatives.

Determinations Made by the Field Museum of Natural History

    Officials of the Field Museum of Natural History 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(2), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the sacred 
object and the Wiyot Tribe, California (previously listed as the Table 
Bluff Reservation--Wiyot Tribe).

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 Helen Robbins, Field Museum of Natural 
History, 1400 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605, telephone 
(312) 665-7317, email [email protected], by March 26, 2018. 
After that date, if no additional claimants have come forward, transfer 
of control of the sacred object to the Wiyot Tribe, California 
(previously listed as the Table Bluff Reservation--Wiyot Tribe) may 
proceed.
    The Field Museum of Natural History is responsible for notifying 
the Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria, California; Blue Lake 
Rancheria, California; Cher-Ae Heights Indian Community of the Trinidad 
Rancheria, California; and Wiyot Tribe, California (previously listed 
as the Table Bluff Reservation--Wiyot Tribe) that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: February 2, 2018.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2018-03639 Filed 2-21-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P