[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 112 (Friday, June 11, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31606-31607]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-14831]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate a Cultural Item in the Possession 
of the American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY

AGENCY: National Park Service.

ACTION: Notice.

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[[Page 31607]]

    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 American Museum of Natural 
History, New York, NY which meets the definition of ``sacred object'' 
under Section 2 of the Act.
    The cultural item is a Natoas bundle used in the Blackfeet Sun 
Dance. The bundle is comprised of a woman's headdress, a badger skin 
bag, a digging stick, a case for the items, a shawl for covering the 
bundle, four bags for the headdress parts, four bundle skins and 
wrappings, a paint outfit bag, nine paint bags, five sets of paints, a 
bag with skin scraps, seven rattles, a Nez Perce bag, a rawhide piece, 
three smudge sticks, a tripod for supporting the bundle, and a strap 
for the main bundle. This particular Natoas bundle is sometimes 
referred to as Many White Horses' Natoas bundle.
    In 1906, the Museum purchased the bundle (AMNH Accession 1906-5), 
through intermediaries, from Mary Wolf Chief, the widow of Many White 
Horses. Mary Wolf Chief was co-keeper of the bundle who had the 
authority to sell the bundle, and voluntarily sold it to the Museum 
because she said that it had brought her bad luck.
    Mr. Clayton Arrowtop traces his ancestry directly and without 
interruption to Many White Horses and Mary Wolf Chief, his great 
grandparents. During consultation, Mr. Arrowtop and Blackfeet elders 
identified the bundle as a specific ceremonial object needed by 
traditional Native American religious leaders for the practice of 
traditional Native American religion by its present-day adherents. 
Representatives of the Blackfeet Nation and Blackfeet elders have 
confirmed that Mr. Arrowtop is the appropriate custodian of the bundle.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the American 
Museum of Natural History 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 American Museum of Natural History have also 
determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (b)(1), Mr. Clayton Arrowtop 
can trace his ancestry directly and without interruption by means of 
the traditional kinship system of the Blackfeet Nation to Many White 
Horses and Mary Wolf Chief. Finally, officials of the Museum have 
determined that the Museum has right of possession, but that the Museum 
will waive that right in this case.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Blackfeet Nation. Any 
other lineal descendant, or representatives of any other Indian tribe 
that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with this object 
should contact Martha Graham, Registrar for Cultural Resources, 
Department of Anthropology, American Museum of Natural History, Central 
Park West at 79th Street, telephone: (212) 769-5846 before July 12, 
1999. Repatriation of this object to Mr. Clayton Arrowtop may begin 
after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
    The National Park Service is not responsible for the contents of or 
determinations within this notice.
Dated: May 27, 1999.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Manager, Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 99-14831 Filed 6-10-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F