[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 123 (Tuesday, June 25, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32856-32857]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-16090]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Notice of Intent to Repatriate a Cultural Item in the Possession 
of the Modoc National Forest, United States Forest Service, Alturas, CA

AGENCY: National Park Service

ACTION: Notice

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    Notice is hereby given under the Native American Graves Protection 
and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3005 (a)(2), of the intent to 
repatriate a cultural item in the possession of the United States 
Forest Service which meets the definition of ``sacred object'' under 
Section 2 of the Act.
    The cultural item is a volcanic stone pipe with incised lines at 
one end. There is burnt residue coating the interior of the pipe.
    In 1985, this pipe was removed from the surface in the vicinity of 
Goose Creek in the Warner Mountains during a legally-authorized 
archeological survey.
    The area from which the pipe was removed is well within the 
ethnographic territory of the Gidutikadu Band of the Northern Paiute, 
now part of the Ft. Bidwell Indian Community of California. Evidence 
presented by representatives of the Ft. Bidwell Indian Community 
indicate this pipe was used for certain religious ceremonies and rites 
held by the Northern Paiute people, and is needed to continue the 
practice of traditional Paiute religion by present-day adherents.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the United 
States Forest Service have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 
(3)(C), this cultural item 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.  
Officials of the United States Forest Service have also determined 
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (2), there is a relationship of shared 
group identity which can be reasonably traced between these items and 
the Ft. Bidwell Indian Community.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Ft. Bidwell Indian 
Community. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes 
itself to be culturally affiliated with these objects should contact 
Diane Henderson-Bramlette, Forest Supervisor, Modoc National Forest, 
United States Forest Service, 800 W. 12th Street, Alturas, CA 96101, 
telephone (916) 233-5811 before July 25, 1996. Repatriation of these 
objects to the Ft. Bidwell Indian Community may

[[Page 32857]]

begin after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
Dated: June 19, 1996.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Chief, Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 96-16090 Filed 6-24-96 ; 8:45 am]
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