[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 168 (Thursday, August 29, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 55423]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-21994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate a Cultural Item in the Possession 
of the Houston Museum of Natural Science, Houston, TX

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 
a cultural item in the possession of the Houston Museum of Natural 
Science, Houston, TX, that meets the definition of Asacred 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 cultural item is a paho, or prayer stick. The paho is made from 
two sticks, painted green, approximately 22 centimeters long, four 
feathers (three turkey feathers and one buteo hawk feather), and the 
twine that holds the sticks and feathers together.
    In the 1950s, Eleanor Searle McCullum was given the paho by a 
member of the Porter Timeche family. In November 1991, Mrs. McCullum 
donated the paho to the Houston Museum of Natural Science.
    Museum records indicate that this item was given to the donor by a 
Hopi person and that it is a Hopi object, which is consistent with its 
style and construction. Consultation with representatives of the Hopi 
tribe confirm that this is a Hopi object. During consultations, the 
Hopi tribal representatives stated that this paho is needed by 
traditional Native American religious leaders for the practice of their 
traditional Native American religion by their present-day adherents.
    Authorities of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in 
Albuquerque, NM, have been contacted regarding applicability of the 
Migratory Bird Treaty Act to this transfer and concur that the transfer 
may take place without a permit.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the Houston 
Museum of Natural Science 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 Houston Museum of 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 this item 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 objects should contact Dirk Van 
Turenhout, Curator of Anthropology, Houston Museum of Natural Science, 
One Hermann Circle Drive, Houston, TX 77030-1799, telephone (713) 639-
4674 before September 30, 2002. Repatriation of these objects to the 
Hopi Tribe of Arizona may begin after that date if no additional 
claimants come forward.

    Dated: July 30, 2002
Robert Stearns,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 02-21994 Filed 8-28-02; 8:45 am]
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