[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 93 (Monday, May 14, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 24400]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-12016]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items in the Possession 
of the Putnam Museum of History and Natural Science, Davenport, IA

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 Putnam Museum of History and 
Natural Science, Davenport, IA, 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 cultural items are two gourd rattles (catalog number AE 103 A-
B, accession number 1957-35). The handles are made of hand-carved wood 
and have been stained black. The top of each gourd has been removed so 
that the handle fits snugly into the neck of the gourd. The handles 
form the axis with 1.75 inches protruding at the top. There are small 
brown beads inside each of the rattles. One gourd has a dyed blackish-
brown knotted rope (0.25 inches in diameter) tied to the handle.
    The rattles were purchased by A. Lang Baily during the summer of 
1956 at Tama, IA. The rattles were donated to the Davenport Public 
Museum (now the Putnam Museum of History and Natural Science) on 
October 22, 1957, by his wife, Kay Baily.
    Cultural affiliation with the Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi 
in Iowa is indicated by the rattles' acquisition at Tama, IA, where the 
Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa settlement is located. 
Also, according to the accession record as well as to the catalog card 
the objects are designated as being ``Mesquaki,'' which is the name the 
Fox use for themselves.
    Correspondence with the Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in 
Iowa indicates that the rattles are sacred according to past and 
current traditional practices and standards of Sac and Fox religious 
integrity. Furthermore, information presented in the consultation 
indicates that these rattles are specific ceremonial objects that are 
needed by the present-day adherents of traditional Sac and Fox 
religious practices. Correspondence with the tribe further suggests 
these rattles may also be objects of cultural patrimony since the 
objects were tribal property at the time of alienation.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the Putnam 
Museum of History and Natural Science have determined that, pursuant to 
43 CFR 10.2(d)(3), these rattles 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 Putnam Museum of History and Natural 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 
rattles and the Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Sac and Fox Tribe of 
the Mississippi in Iowa; the Sac and Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas 
and Nebraska; and the Sac and Fox Nation, Oklahoma. Representatives of 
any other Native American tribe that believes itself to be culturally 
affiliated with these sacred objects should contact Janice Hall, Chief 
Curator, Putnam Museum of History and Natural Science, 1717 West 12th 
Street, Davenport, IA 52804, telephone (563) 324-1054, before June 13, 
2001. Repatriation of these sacred objects to the Sac and Fox Tribe of 
the Mississippi in Iowa may begin after that date if no additional 
claimants come forward.

    Dated: April 13, 2001.
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnerships.
[FR Doc. 01-12016 Filed 5-11-01; 8:45 am]
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