[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 191 (Friday, October 2, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53097-53098]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26420]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items in the Possession 
of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University, 
Cambridge, MA

AGENCY: National Park Service

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 Peabody Museum of Archaeology 
and Ethnology, Havard University, Cambridge, MA which meet the 
definition of ''sacred object'' and ''object of cultural patrimony'' 
under Section 2 of the Act.
    The 16 cultural items consist of a skirt or shoulder cape; a ring-
tail cat apron; a hookmen headdress; two sets of dance plumes; a wolf 
blinder headdress; three headdresses (headnets); a roll for headdress; 
two woodpecker headdresses; a red hummingbird headdress; two dance 
baskets; and a head ring.

[[Page 53098]]

    In 1902, the skirt or shoulder cape was purchased by P.M. Jones 
directly from a Hupa individual on behalf of the Department of 
Anthropology, University of California-Berkeley. In 1904, the 
Department of Anthropology, University of California-Berkeley gave this 
item to the Peabody Museum at Harvard University as part of an 
exchange.
    In 1901, the ring-tail cat apron was collected by P.M. Jones in 
Hoopa Valley, on behalf of the Department of Anthropology, University 
of California-Berkeley. In 1904, the Department of Anthropology, 
University of California-Berkeley gave this item to the Peabody Museum 
at Harvard University as part of an exchange.
    Prior to 1904, a headdress (headnet) was collected by Grace A. 
Nicholson from a Hupa individual on the Lower Klamath River. She then 
sold the this cultural items to Lewis H. Farlow. In 1904, Lewis H. 
Farlow donated this headdress to the Peabody Museum at Harvard 
University.
    In 1906, the hookmen headdress, a woodpecker headdress, the 
wolfblinder headdress, the headdress roll, two set of dance plumes were 
very probably purchased by Grace A. Nicholson from Hupa individuals on 
the Lower Klamath River. She then sold the these cultural items to 
Lewis H. Farlow. In 1906, Lewis H. Farlow donated these items to the 
Peabody Museum at Harvard University.
    In 1906, the head ring was very probably purchased by Grace A. 
Nicholson in Northern California from a Hupa individual. She then sold 
these cultural items to Lewis H. Farlow. In 1906, Lewis H. Farlow 
donated this head ring to the Peabody Museum at Harvard University.
    In 1908, a woodpecker headdress, a red hummingbird headdress, and a 
dance basket were very probably purchased by Grace A. Nicholson from 
Old Sanaxon, a Hupa individual. She then sold these cultural items to 
Lewis H. Farlow. In 1908, Lewis H. Farlow donated these cultural items 
to the Peabody Museum at Harvard University.
    In 1911, a dance basket was probably purchased by Grace A. 
Nicholson from a Hupa individual. She then sold this cultural item to 
Lewis H. Farlow. In 1911, Lewis H. Farlow donated this item to the 
Peabody Museum at Harvard University.
    In 1909, two headdresses (headnets) were purchased by the Peabody 
Museum at Harvard University through the Huntington Frothingham Wolcott 
Fund from an unknown individual.
    All of the sixteen cultural items listed above were and are still 
used by the Hoopa Valley Tribe of the Hoopa Valley Reservation in the 
World Renewal Ceremonies (the White Deerskin Dance and the Jump Dance), 
and in the Brush Dance. Each of these cultural items has an associated 
creation story and gender identity. Ownership rights to the above 
cultural items rest with the Immortals and only secondarily to specific 
lineages. Representatives of the Hoopa Valley Tribe of the Hoopa Valley 
Reservation have stated that these objects are needed by Hoopa 
religious leaders for the practice of traditional Native American 
religions by present-day adherents. Representatives of the Hoopa Valley 
Tribe of the Hoopa Valley Reservation also state that these objects 
have ongoing historical, traditional, and cultural importance central 
to the tribe itself and could not have been alienated or conveyed by 
any individual.
    An additional cultural item is a doctor's necklace.
    In 1906, this doctor's necklace was very probably purchased by 
Grace A. Nicholson, probably from a Hupa individual in Northern 
California. She then sold the doctor's necklace to Lewis H. Farlow. In 
1906, Lewis H. Farlow donated this doctor's necklace to the Peabody 
Museum at Harvard University.
    This doctor's necklace is used for the Kick Dance, a curing 
ceremony. Representatives of the Hoopa Valley Tribe of the Hoopa Valley 
Reservation have stated that this object is needed by Hoopa religious 
leaders for the practice of traditional Native American religions by 
present-day adherents.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the Peabody 
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology have determined that, pursuant to 
43 CFR 10.2 (d)(3), these seventeen 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 Peabody Museum of 
Archaeology and Ethnology have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 
(d)(4), these sixteen 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. Officials of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and 
Ethnology 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 items and the Hoopa Valley Tribe of the Hoopa 
Valley Reservation.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Hoopa Valley Tribe of 
the Hoopa Valley Reservation. Representatives of any other Indian tribe 
that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these objects 
should contact Barbara Issac, Coordinator for Repatriation, Peabody 
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, 11 Divinity Ave., Cambridge, MA 
022138; telephone (617) 495-2254 before November 2, 1998. Repatriation 
of these objects to the Hoopa Valley Tribe of the Hoopa Valley 
Reservation may begin after that date if no additional claimants come 
forward.
Dated: September 29, 1998.

    Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Manager, Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 98-26420 Filed 10-1-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F