[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 125 (Tuesday, June 30, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35607-35608]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-17311]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items from New Mexico in 
the Possession of the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture/Laboratory of 
Anthropology, Museum of New Mexico, Santa Fe, NM

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is hereby given under the Native American Graves Protection 
and Repatriation Act, 43 CFR 10.10 (a)(3), of the intent to repatriate 
cultural items in the possession of the Museum of Indian Arts and 
Culture/Laboratory of Anthropology, Museum of New Mexico, Santa Fe, NM 
which meet the definition of ``sacred object'' and ``object of cultural 
patrimony'' under Section 2 of the Act.
    The seven cultural items are ceramic water vials, decorated with 
black geometric designs on a white slip.
    Between 1920 and 1922, Edgar L. Hewett of the Museum of New Mexico 
acquired these cultural items from Antonia Tapia, a Rain Priest at the 
Pueblo of Pojoaque, also known as Posuwage. These objects are now in 
the collection of the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture/Laboratory of 
Anthropology, Museum of New Mexico.
    The cultural affiliation of these cultural items is clearly 
Pojoaque Pueblo as indicated through ethnographic description, museum 
records, and consultation with representatives of the Pueblo of 
Pojoaque. Representatives of the Pueblo of Pojoaque have also stated 
that these seven cultural items have ongoing historical, traditional, 
and cultural importance central to the tribe itsel, and no individual 
had or has the right to alienate them.
    Officials of the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture/Laboratory of 
Anthropology, Museum of New Mexico have determined that, pursuant to 43 
CFR 10.2 (d)(4), these seven cultural items have ongoing historical, 
traditional, and cultural importance central to the tribe itself, and 
could not have been alienated, appropriated, or conveyed by any 
individual.
    The three cultural items consist of two carved fetish stones and a 
ceramic cloud blower pipe.
    The only information available in museum records regarding these 
cultural items is that they were recovered from site LA 61, a known 
pre-contact component of the Pueblo of Pojoaque based on material 
culture and architecture.
    The cultural affiliation of these cultural items is clearly 
Pojoaque Pueblo as indicated through ethnographic information, museum 
records, and consultation with representatives of the Pueblo of 
Pojoaque. Representatives of the Pueblo of Pojoaque also state that 
these three cultural items are needed by traditional Native American 
religious leaders for the practice of traditional religions by present-
day adherents.
    Officials of the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture/Laboratory of 
Anthropology, Museum of New Mexico have determined that, pursuant to 43 
CFR 10.2 (d)(3), these three cultural items are specific ceremonial 
objects needed by traditional Native American religious leaders for the 
practice of traditional Native American religions by their present-day 
adherents.
    Officials of the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture/Laboratory of 
Anthropology, Museum of New Mexico have also determined that, pursuant 
to 43 CFR 10.2 (e), there is a relationship of shared group identity 
which can be reasonably traced between these 10 items and the Pueblo of 
Pojoaque.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Pueblo of Pojoaque. 
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally

[[Page 35608]]

affiliated with these objects should contact Patiricia House, Director, 
Museum of Indian Arts and Cultures/Laboratory of Anthropology, Museum 
of New Mexico, P.O. Box 2087, Santa Fe, NM 87504-2087; telephone: (505) 
827-6344 before July 30, 1998. Repatriation of these objects to the 
Pueblo of Pojoaque may begin after that date if no additional claimants 
come forward.
Dated: June 23, 1998.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Manager, Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 98-17311 Filed 6-29-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F