[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 138 (Wednesday, July 20, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-17583]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 20, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
 

Notice of Intent to Repatriate a Cultural Item in the Possession 
of the Denver Art Museum

ACTION:  Notice

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    Notice is hereby given under the Native American Graves Protection 
and Repatriation Act of 1990 of the intent to repatriate a cultural 
item in the possession of the Denver Art Museum, Denver, CO, that meets 
the definition of ``sacred object'' under section 2 of the act.
    The Elk Tongue Beaver Bundle consists of animal bodies or skins, a 
beaver tail, a buffalo tail, a feather fan, a pipe stem and catlinite 
bowl, beaded bags, forked sticks, split sticks, and eight rawhide 
rattles in a corn husk bag, all surrounded by a painted leather 
wrapping and a red plaid shawl. The original owner was Elk Tongue, a 
northern Piegan. The bundle was subsequently transferred through a 
series of bundle keepers--Hairy Belly, Not Good, Scraping White, Wolf 
Bull, and Little Dog--before being sold to Madge Hardin Walters of San 
Diego, CA. The Denver Art Museum purchased the bundle from Ms. Walters 
in 1940.
    Evidence provided by the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council, on the 
behalf of Mr. George G. Kipp, III, and Mrs. Melinda Kipp, confirms that 
the Elk Tongue Beaver Bundle is needed by traditional Blackfeet 
religious leaders for the practice of traditional Blackfeet religion by 
present day adherents. The Pikuni Traditionalist Association, Chief 
Leonard Bastien of the Piegan Nation, Alberta, Canada, and the 
Blackfeet Tribal Business Council unanimously support Mr. and Mrs. Kipp 
as the appropriate bundle keepers. The Denver Art Museum's Collection 
Committee and Board of Trustees has reviewed the request for 
repatriation and has no objection. The Elk Tongue Beaver Bundle has 
been loaned to the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council, on the behalf of 
Mr. and Mrs. Kipp, pending publication of this notice.
    Authorities of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service have 
been contacted regarding applicability of Federal endangered species 
statutes to this transfer and have concurred in the conclusion that the 
object is not covered due to its age.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with this object should contact Dr. Nancy J. 
Blomberg, Curator of Native Arts, Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Avenue 
Parkway, Denver, CO 80204, telephone: (303) 839-4806 before August 19, 
1994. Repatriation of the object to the Blackfeet Nation, on behalf of 
George and Melinda Kipp, may begin after that date if no additional 
claimants come forward.
Dated: July 14, 1994
Dr. Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist
Chief, Archeological Assistance Division.
[FR Doc. 94-17583 Filed 7-19-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F