[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 54 (Tuesday, March 20, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 15746]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-6842]


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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, 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 Peabody Museum of Archaeology 
and Ethnology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, that meet the 
definition of ``unassociated funerary object'' 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 59 cultural items are brass beads.
    Prior to 1895, these cultural items were collected from a grave 
near Yantic, MT, by Rev. J.W. Millar. In 1909, these cultural items 
were donated to the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology by 
Lewis H. Farlow.
    Museum records indicate that these cultural items were ``from a 
`dug out' house grave'' and are attributed to the Cree. The specific 
cultural attribution indicates that the collector was aware of the 
cultural affiliation of the burial and suggests that it dated to 
historic times. Based on the specific cultural attribution in museum 
records, the 19th century date of the burial, and geographical location 
within the historic territory of the Cree, these cultural items are 
considered to be affiliated with the Chippewa-Cree Indians of the Rocky 
Boy's Reservation, Montana; and the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa 
Indians of North Dakota.
    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)(2)(ii), these cultural items are reasonably believed to 
have been placed with or near individual human remains at the time of 
death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony and are believed, 
by a preponderance of the evidence, to have been removed from a 
specific burial site of an Native American individual. Officials of the 
Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology 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 Chippewa-Cree Indians of the Rocky Boy's Reservation, Montana; and 
the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians of North Dakota. This 
notice has been sent to officials of the Chippewa-Cree Indians of the 
Rocky Boy's Reservation, Montana; and the Turtle Mountain Band of 
Chippewa Indians of North Dakota. Representatives of any other Indian 
tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these 
unassociated funerary objects should contact Barbara Isaac, 
Repatriation Coordinator, Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, 
11 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, telephone (617) 495-2254, 
before April 19, 2001. Repatriation of these unassociated funerary 
objects to the Chippewa-Cree Indians of the Rocky Boy's Reservation, 
Montana; and the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians of North 
Dakota may begin after that date if no additional claimants come 
forward.

    Dated: February 23, 2001.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 01-6842 Filed 3-19-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F