[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 227 (Wednesday, November 25, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 65218]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-31487]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate a Cultural Item in the Possession 
of the Olmsted County Historical Society, Rochester, MN

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 
a cultural item in the possession of the Olmsted County Historical 
Society, Rochester, MN which meets the definition of ``sacred object'' 
under Section 2 of the Act.
    The cultural item is a Iroquois Medicine Rattle constructed of a 
cow's horn with a wooden handle.
    In 1966, this item was donated to the Olmsted County Historical 
Society by the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. The Mayo Clinic had received 
this item from Dr. S.A. Barrett of the Milwaukee Public Museum. At an 
earlier unknown date, this item was acquired in western New York State.
    Museum records indicate this rattle is a Medicine Rattle. 
Consultation with representatives of the Cayuga Nation of New York 
indicate this item is needed by traditional Native American religious 
leaders for practice of traditional Native American religion by 
present-day adherents.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the Olmsted 
County Historical Society have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 
(d)(3), 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 Olmsted County Historical Society 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 this item and the 
Cayuga Nation of New York.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Cayuga Nation of New 
York, the Tuscarora Nation of New York, the Seneca Nation of New York, 
the Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma, the St. Regis Band of Mohawk 
Indians of New York, the Onondaga Nation of New York, the Oneida Nation 
of New York, and the Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin. Representatives of any 
other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated 
with these objects should contact Margot Ballard, Curator, Olmsted 
County Historical Society, 1195 Cty. Rd. 22 SW, Rochester, MN 55902; 
telephone (507) 282-9447 before December 28, 1998. Repatriation of 
these objects to the Cayuga Nation of New York may begin after that 
date if no additional claimants come forward.
Dated: November 18, 1998.
Veletta Canouts,
Acting Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Deputy Manager, Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 98-31487 Filed 11-24-98; 8:45 am]
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