[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 28 (Friday, February 9, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9718-9719]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-3357]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items in the Possession 
of the Cranbrook Institute of Science, Bloomfield Hills, MI

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 Cranbrook Institute of Science 
that meet the definition of ``sacred objects'' under Section 2 of the 
Act.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 43 CFR 10.2 (c). The 
determinations within this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of these 
cultural items. The National Park Service is not responsible for the 
determinations within this notice.
    The two cultural items are a Hopi Kachina Initiation altar and a 
Hopi Water Serpent altar. The Kachina Initiation altar consists of a 
plaster sand painting for the floor and is accompanied by eight groups 
of altar adornment, including eagle feathers, ears of colored corn, 
stone celts, a wooden weaving implement, and shell and stone beads. The 
Water Serpent altar consists of a large canvas screen divided into four 
panels of painted images. Four carved snakes or ``water serpents'' 
extend outward in front of the altar screen.

[[Page 9719]]

    The Hopi Kachina Initiation altar and the Hopi Water Serpent altar 
were purchased by Cranbrook Institute of Science in 1933 from the 
estate of Sir Henry Wellcome, who obtained the altars from the Field 
Museum of Natural History in Chicago, IL, following an exhibit. The 2 
altars belonged to a series of 12 Hopi altars constructed by Hopi 
priests and artists specifically for the Field Museum exhibit.
    Information provided with the altars at the time of purchase 
describes the Field Museum exhibit and the circumstances of the 
priests' and artists' commission to construct the altars at the Field 
Museum from components that had been prefabricated in Arizona. 
Description of the ceremonies and the items used in the ceremonies are 
addressed in anthropology literature, such as Hopi Kachina, by E. A. 
Kennard, The Kachina and the White Man, by Frederick Dockstader, and in 
the text that accompanied the original exhibit.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the 
Cranbrook Educational Community, parent organization for Cranbrook 
Institute of Science, have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 
(d)(3), these 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 Cranbrook Institute of Science also have determined 
that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (e), there is a relationship of shared 
group identity that can be reasonably traced between these cultural 
items and the Hopi Tribe of Arizona.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Hopi Tribe of 
Arizona. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself 
to be culturally affiliated with these cultural items should contact 
Michael Stafford, Ph.D., Curator of Anthropology and Head of Science 
Department, Cranbrook Institute of Science, 39221 Woodward Avenue, 
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48303-0801, telephone (248) 645-3223, before March 
12, 2001. Repatriation of these cultural items to the Hopi Tribe of 
Arizona may begin after that date if no additional claimants come 
forward.

    Dated: January 24, 2001.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 01-3357 Filed 2-8-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F