[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 73 (Wednesday, April 16, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 18649]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-9836]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate a Cultural Item in the Control of 
the Southwest Museum, Los Angeles, 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 control of the Southwest Museum, Los 
Angeles, CA, which meets the definition of ``sacred object'' and 
``object of cultural patrimony'' under Section 2 of the Act.
    The cultural item is a carved wooden figure standing 32-1/4 inches 
tall.
    At an unknown date, this figure was purchased from an unknown 
source by the Southwest Museum. Accession records indicate this figure 
was ``probably'' removed from a cave shrine near Thunder Mountain, NM. 
There is no other information regarding the purchase or original 
acquisition of this figure.
    Consultation with representatives of the Pueblo of Zuni indicates 
this figure is a Ahaya:da, or Zuni War God. Representatives of the 
Pueblo of Zuni state that this Ahaya:da is needed by Zuni traditional 
religious leaders for the practice of traditional Zuni religion by 
present-day adherents. Representatives of the Pueblo of Zuni also state 
that this Ahaya:da has ongoing historical, traditional, and cultural 
importance central to the Pueblo of Zuni, and could not have been 
alienated by any individual.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the 
Southwest Museum 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 Southwest Museum have also determined that, pursuant 
to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(D), this cultural item has ongoing historical, 
traditional, and cultural importance central to the culture itself, and 
could not have been alienated, appropriated, or conveyed by any 
individual. Finally, officials of the Southwest Museum 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 Pueblo of Zuni.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Pueblo of Zuni. 
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with these objects should contact Dr. Kathleen 
Whitaker, Chief Curator, Southwest Museum, P.O. Box 41558, Los Angeles, 
CA 19941-0558; telephone (213) 221-2164 before May 16, 1997. 
Repatriation of these objects to the Pueblo of Zuni may begin after 
that date if no additional claimants come forward.
Dated: April 9, 1997.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist, Manager, Archeology and 
Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 97-9836 Filed 4-15-97 ; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F