[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 22 (Thursday, February 2, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 6552]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-2539]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service


Notice of Intent To Repatriate a Cultural Item in the Possession 
of the Museum of New Mexico, Santa Fe, New Mexico

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is hereby given under provisions of the Native American 
Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of the intent to repatriate 
cultural items in the possession of the Museum of Indian Arts and 
Culture/Laboratory of Anthropology, a unit of the Museum of New Mexico, 
Santa Fe, New Mexico, that meets the definition of ``sacred object'' 
under Section 2 of the Act.
    The item is a prayer stick used as a part of the Navajo Enemyway 
ceremony. The object consists of nine parts: two eagle feathers, a 
cedar branch, a piece of red cloth, a can of animal fat, deer hooves, 
and three leather pouches. The object was a gift to the Museum of new 
Mexico by its first director, Dr. Edgar Lee Hewett. These objects were 
part of a medicine bag containing approximately sixty-nine pieces, 
purchased by Hewett at a trading post east of the Chuska Mountains on 
the Navajo Reservation prior to 1935.
    The Navajo Nation after consultation with traditional religious 
leaders, requested that the prayer stick and the associated items be 
repatriated. The Museum's records indicate the objects under 
consideration for repatriation are Navajo in origin and were, most 
likely used by Navajo Medicine Men during the first two decades of the 
20th century.
    Based on the above mentioned information, officials of the Museum 
of Indian Arts and Culture, a unit of the Museum of New Mexico have 
determined, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(C), that these items are 
specific ceremonial objects needed by traditional Navajo religious 
leaders for the practice of their religion by its present day 
adherents. Officials of the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, a unit 
of the Museum of New Mexico have further determined, pursuant to 25 
U.S.C. 3001 (2), that there is a relationship of shared group identity 
which can be reasonably traced between these items and the Navajo 
Nation.
    The catalog numbered objects, 23075/12a-g and 23072/12a-b, are 
officially part of the collection now identified as the School of 
American Research Collection in the Museum of New Mexico, a loan 
agreement resulting from fifty years of the two institutions operating 
as one entity under a single Director. The School, now separate from 
the Museum of New Mexico, through written correspondence dated January 
6, 1995 has agreed to repatriate the prayer stick and associated items.
    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.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Navajo Nation. 
Representatives of any other Indian tribe which believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with these cultural items should contact Dr. 
Bruce Bernstein, Chief Curator, Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, 
Museum of New Mexico, P.O. Box 2087, Santa Fe, NM 87504, telephone: 
(505) 827-6344, before March 6, 1995. Repatriation of these sacred 
objects to the Navajo Nation may begin after that date if no additional 
claimants come forward.
Dated: January 26, 1995.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Chief, Archeological Assistance Division
[FR Doc. 95-2539 Filed 2-1-95; 8:45 am]
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