[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 11 (Thursday, January 16, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 2384]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-1067]



[[Page 2384]]

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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 the South Dakota State Historical Society, Pierre, SD

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 Museum of the South 
Dakota State Historical Society, Pierre, SD, which meets the definition 
of ``sacred object'' under Section 2 of the Act.
    The cultural item is a medicine man's rattle made from a buffalo 
scrotum with a wooden stick handle. The rattle has an incised figure on 
one side and the opposite side is covered with faded blue pigment.
    The rattle was donated to the South Dakota State Historical Society 
in 1906 by Mary Clementine Collins of Keokuk, IA. During the late 1800s 
and early 1900s, Miss Collins worked at the Oahe Mission, north of 
Pierre on the Missouri River, just opposite the Cheyenne River Sioux 
reservation. Miss Collins identified the rattle as having belonged to 
``Elk Head, 9th keeper of the sacred pipe.'' It is not known how Miss 
Collins acquired the rattle.
    Mr. Arvol Looking Horse, keeper of the sacred pipe, traces his 
ancestry directly and without interruption to Elk Head, his great-
great-great grandfather. During consultation, Mr. Looking Horse 
identified this rattle as a specific ceremonial object needed by 
traditional Native American religious leaders for the practice of 
traditional Native American religion by present-day adherents and has 
requested the rattle be returned to him as lineal descendent.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the South 
Dakota State Historical Society 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 South Dakota State Historical Society have 
also determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (a)(5)(A), Mr. Arvol 
Looking Horse can trace his ancestry directly and without interruption 
by means of the traditional kinship system of the Cheyenne River Sioux 
Tribe to the individual who owned this sacred object.
    This notice has been sent to Mr. Arvol Looking Horse and officials 
of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. Representatives of any other Indian 
tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these 
objects should contact Claudia Nicholson, Museum of the South Dakota 
State Historical Society, 900 Governors Dr., Pierre, SD 57501-2217, 
telephone (605) 773-6011 before February 18, 1997. Repatriation of 
these objects to Mr. Arvol Looking Horse may begin after that date if 
no additional claimants come forward.
Dated: January 8, 1997.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Chief, Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 97-1067 Filed 1-15-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F