Notice of Intended Repatriation: Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, 71387-71388 [2024-19683]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 170 / Tuesday, September 3, 2024 / Notices described in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after October 3, 2024. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the Science Museum of Minnesota must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects are considered a single request and not competing requests. The Science Museum of Minnesota is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice. Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.10. Dated: August 26, 2024. Melanie O’Brien, Manager, National NAGPRA Program. [FR Doc. 2024–19684 Filed 8–30–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4312–52–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service [NPS–WASO–NAGPRA–NPS0038626; PPWOCRADN0–PCU00RP14.R50000] Notice of Intended Repatriation: Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT National Park Service, Interior. Notice. AGENCY: ACTION: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Wesleyan University intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice. DATES: Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on or after October 3, 2024. ADDRESSES: Wendi Field Murray, Wesleyan University (Archaeology & Anthropology Collections), 265 Church Street, Exley Science Building, Middletown, CT 06459, telephone (860)–685–2085, email wmurray01@ wesleyan.edu. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is published as part of the National Park Service’s administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of Wesleyan University and additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in the summary or related records. The National Park Service is tkelley on LAP7H3WLY3PROD with NOTICES2 SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 22:46 Aug 30, 2024 Jkt 262001 not responsible for the determinations in this notice. Abstract of Information Available A total of five cultural items have been jointly requested for repatriation. The five unassociated funerary objects are two stone mortars (1972.103.1; 1971.24.1) and three stone pestles (1971.364.1; 1971.365.1; 1971.367.1). All five objects were taken by Paul Schumacher from San Nicolas Island, CA during the 1870s (likely 1877) while he was employed as an archaeologist for the National Park Service. Schumacher’s collecting was prolific in the Channel Islands during the 1870s. The looting of Native American burials figures prominently in the documentation of his work via reports and his personal journals, making it probable that these items are from funerary contexts. They were initially delivered to the Smithsonian Institution, and in 1878, they were included in a large (Smithsonian) transfer of cultural objects originating in the Channel Islands and other parts of California to Wesleyan University’s natural history museum. It should also be noted that there was a sixth object (a stone pestle, 1971.446.1) from San Nicolas Island taken by Schumacher and originally included in the 1878 transfer paperwork (as well as a 1971 collections inventory), but was discovered to be missing by Wesleyan collections staff in 1999. It has not yet been found, but for future reference this object has the same provenance and cultural affiliation as the five objects listed above. No cultural affiliation information was included in the records of the taking or the transfer, though their geographical origin and the well-documented cultural, historical, geographical, and linguistic connections between the claimants and the southern Channel Islands indicates a cultural affiliation with the Payómkawichum (Luiseño) Tribal Bands and the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. The presence of potentially hazardous substances (i.e., pesticide residues) on these particular objects is unknown. In 2021, Wesleyan University discovered the presence of pesticide residue (arsenic) on one organic object from Samoa that was transferred from the Smithsonian in the 19th century, as well as several taxidermy specimens. This suggests the possibility that other objects in the collection may be contaminated. While pesticides were not typically applied to stone objects due to their inherent resilience to pest damage, the objects from San Nicolas have potentially been intermingling with organic objects in a large ethnographic teaching collection since PO 00000 Frm 00138 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 71387 the 1870s, and possibly with natural history specimens as well. To what extent Wesleyan staff attempted to mitigate cross-contamination when objects were stored or handled is unknown. There is one documented instance of pest fumigation relating to the collections that dates to 1972–1973. This was to treat a silverfish infestation in underground storage rooms that held the museum’s objects after it closed. The proposal was for the application of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) to the floors, the placement of open containers of paradichlorobenzene (PDB) around the room, and the placement of a mildew-retarding insecticide inside the wraps of specimens. The specific contents of the room in which the chemicals were applied, and to what extent they were shielded from them, is unknown. Determinations Wesleyan University has determined that: • The five unassociated funerary objects described in this notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with or near human remains, and are connected, either at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony of a Native American culture according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization. The unassociated funerary objects have been identified by a preponderance of the evidence as related to human remains, specific individuals, or families, or removed from a specific burial site or burial area of an individual or individuals with cultural affiliation to an Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization. • There is a reasonable connection between the cultural items described in this notice and the La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians, California; Pala Band of Mission Indians; Pauma Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of the Pauma & Yuima Reservation, California; Pechanga Band of Indians (previously listed as Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of the Pechanga Reservation, California); Rincon Band of Luiseno Mission Indians of the Rincon Reservation, California; Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians of the Santa Ynez Reservation, California; and the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians, California. Requests for Repatriation Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this notice U:\REGISTER\03SEN1.SGM 03SEN1 71388 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 170 / Tuesday, September 3, 2024 / Notices under ADDRESSES. Requests for repatriation may be submitted by any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal descendant or a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization. Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after October 3, 2024. If competing requests for repatriation are received, Wesleyan University must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the cultural items are considered a single request and not competing requests. Wesleyan University is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice and to any other consulting parties. Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3004 and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9. Dated: August 26, 2024. Melanie O’Brien, Manager, National NAGPRA Program. [FR Doc. 2024–19683 Filed 8–30–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4312–52–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service [NPS–WASO–NAGPRA–NPS0038632; PPWOCRADN0–PCU00RP14.R50000] Notice of Intended Repatriation: Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Denver, CO National Park Service, Interior. Notice. AGENCY: ACTION: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Denver Museum of Nature & Science intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet the definition of sacred objects and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice. DATES: Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on or after October 3, 2024. ADDRESSES: Chris Patrello, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Boulevard, Denver, CO 80205, telephone (303) 370–6378, email chris.patrello@dmns.org. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is published as part of the National Park Service’s administrative tkelley on LAP7H3WLY3PROD with NOTICES2 SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 22:46 Aug 30, 2024 Jkt 262001 responsibilities under NAGPRA. The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, and additional information on the determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in the summary or related records. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice. Abstract of Information Available A total of 14 cultural items have been requested for repatriation. The 14 sacred objects are five baskets, five wooden plaques, one dance shield, one Tnecklace, one beaded shawl, and one dance cane. 13 of the 14 sacred objects were purchased by Mary and Francis Crane, who donated their collection to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science between 1968 and 1983. In 1954, Mary and Francis Crane purchased two woven plates (AC.58 and AC.106), identified as White Mountain Apache, from Kohlberg’s Antiques and Indian Arts in Denver, Colorado. In 1958, Mary and Francis Crane purchased two woven plates (AC.3047 and AC.3152) from Julian D. Pyatt of Trenton, Missouri. In 1959, Mary and Francis Crane purchased a White Mountain Apache beaded shawl (AC.4353) from National News and Gift Shop in Globe, Arizona. In 1964, Mary and Francis Crane purchased one dance shield (AC.7619), one T-necklace (AC.7621), one dance cane (AC.8088), and five wooden plaques (AC.8090A–E) from the Forestdale Trading post in Show Low, Arizona, all of which are identified as White Mountain Apache. In 2003, the estate of Donald Graham donated one White Mountain Apache basket (AN– 2003–91.1) to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Determinations The Denver Museum of Nature & Science has determined that: • The 14 sacred objects described in this notice are specific ceremonial objects needed by a traditional Native American religious leader for presentday adherents to practice traditional Native American religion, according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization. • There is a reasonable connection between the cultural items described in this notice and the White Mountain Apache Tribe of the Fort Apache Reservation, Arizona. Requests for Repatriation Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items in this PO 00000 Frm 00139 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified in this notice under ADDRESSES. Requests for repatriation may be submitted by any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal descendant or a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization. Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after October 3, 2024. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the cultural items are considered a single request and not competing requests. The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice and to any other consulting parties.Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3004 and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9. Dated: August 26, 2024. Melanie O’Brien, Manager, National NAGPRA Program. [FR Doc. 2024–19681 Filed 8–30–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4312–52–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service [NPS–WASO–NAGPRA–NPS0038622; PPWOCRADN0–PCU00RP14.R50000] Notice of Inventory Completion: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI National Park Service, Interior. Notice. AGENCY: ACTION: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the University of Michigan has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice. DATES: Repatriation of the human remains and associated funerary objects in this notice may occur on or after October 3, 2024. ADDRESSES: Dr. Ben Secunda, NAGPRA Office Manager, University of Michigan, Office of Research, Suite G269, Lane Hall, Ann Arbor, MI 48109–1274, SUMMARY: U:\REGISTER\03SEN1.SGM 03SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 170 (Tuesday, September 3, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71387-71388]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-19683]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0038626; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intended Repatriation: Wesleyan University, Middletown, 
CT

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and 
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), Wesleyan University intends to repatriate 
certain cultural items that meet the definition of unassociated 
funerary objects and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian 
Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

DATES: Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on 
or after October 3, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Wendi Field Murray, Wesleyan University (Archaeology & 
Anthropology Collections), 265 Church Street, Exley Science Building, 
Middletown, CT 06459, telephone (860)-685-2085, email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is published as part of the 
National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. 
The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of 
Wesleyan University and additional information on the determinations in 
this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in the 
summary or related records. The National Park Service is not 
responsible for the determinations in this notice.

Abstract of Information Available

    A total of five cultural items have been jointly requested for 
repatriation. The five unassociated funerary objects are two stone 
mortars (1972.103.1; 1971.24.1) and three stone pestles (1971.364.1; 
1971.365.1; 1971.367.1). All five objects were taken by Paul Schumacher 
from San Nicolas Island, CA during the 1870s (likely 1877) while he was 
employed as an archaeologist for the National Park Service. 
Schumacher's collecting was prolific in the Channel Islands during the 
1870s. The looting of Native American burials figures prominently in 
the documentation of his work via reports and his personal journals, 
making it probable that these items are from funerary contexts. They 
were initially delivered to the Smithsonian Institution, and in 1878, 
they were included in a large (Smithsonian) transfer of cultural 
objects originating in the Channel Islands and other parts of 
California to Wesleyan University's natural history museum. It should 
also be noted that there was a sixth object (a stone pestle, 
1971.446.1) from San Nicolas Island taken by Schumacher and originally 
included in the 1878 transfer paperwork (as well as a 1971 collections 
inventory), but was discovered to be missing by Wesleyan collections 
staff in 1999. It has not yet been found, but for future reference this 
object has the same provenance and cultural affiliation as the five 
objects listed above. No cultural affiliation information was included 
in the records of the taking or the transfer, though their geographical 
origin and the well-documented cultural, historical, geographical, and 
linguistic connections between the claimants and the southern Channel 
Islands indicates a cultural affiliation with the Pay[oacute]mkawichum 
(Luise[ntilde]o) Tribal Bands and the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash 
Indians.
    The presence of potentially hazardous substances (i.e., pesticide 
residues) on these particular objects is unknown. In 2021, Wesleyan 
University discovered the presence of pesticide residue (arsenic) on 
one organic object from Samoa that was transferred from the Smithsonian 
in the 19th century, as well as several taxidermy specimens. This 
suggests the possibility that other objects in the collection may be 
contaminated. While pesticides were not typically applied to stone 
objects due to their inherent resilience to pest damage, the objects 
from San Nicolas have potentially been intermingling with organic 
objects in a large ethnographic teaching collection since the 1870s, 
and possibly with natural history specimens as well. To what extent 
Wesleyan staff attempted to mitigate cross-contamination when objects 
were stored or handled is unknown. There is one documented instance of 
pest fumigation relating to the collections that dates to 1972-1973. 
This was to treat a silverfish infestation in underground storage rooms 
that held the museum's objects after it closed. The proposal was for 
the application of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) to the floors, 
the placement of open containers of paradichlorobenzene (PDB) around 
the room, and the placement of a mildew-retarding insecticide inside 
the wraps of specimens. The specific contents of the room in which the 
chemicals were applied, and to what extent they were shielded from 
them, is unknown.

Determinations

    Wesleyan University has determined that:
     The five unassociated funerary objects described in this 
notice are reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with 
or near human remains, and are connected, either at the time of death 
or later as part of the death rite or ceremony of a Native American 
culture according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a 
lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization. The 
unassociated funerary objects have been identified by a preponderance 
of the evidence as related to human remains, specific individuals, or 
families, or removed from a specific burial site or burial area of an 
individual or individuals with cultural affiliation to an Indian Tribe 
or Native Hawaiian organization.
     There is a reasonable connection between the cultural 
items described in this notice and the La Jolla Band of Luiseno 
Indians, California; Pala Band of Mission Indians; Pauma Band of 
Luiseno Mission Indians of the Pauma & Yuima Reservation, California; 
Pechanga Band of Indians (previously listed as Pechanga Band of Luiseno 
Mission Indians of the Pechanga Reservation, California); Rincon Band 
of Luiseno Mission Indians of the Rincon Reservation, California; Santa 
Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians of the Santa Ynez Reservation, 
California; and the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians, California.

Requests for Repatriation

    Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items 
in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified 
in this notice

[[Page 71388]]

under ADDRESSES. Requests for repatriation may be submitted by any 
lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not 
identified in this notice who shows, by a preponderance of the 
evidence, that the requestor is a lineal descendant or a culturally 
affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.
    Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to a requestor 
may occur on or after October 3, 2024. If competing requests for 
repatriation are received, Wesleyan University must determine the most 
appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint 
repatriation of the cultural items are considered a single request and 
not competing requests. Wesleyan University is responsible for sending 
a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian 
organizations identified in this notice and to any other consulting 
parties.
    Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 
25 U.S.C. 3004 and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9.

    Dated: August 26, 2024.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2024-19683 Filed 8-30-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P


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