[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 138 (Tuesday, July 20, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 43435]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-16145]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent To Repatriate a Cultural Item: Field Museum of 
Natural History, Chicago, IL

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Notice is here given in accordance with the Native American Graves 
Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 43 CFR 10.8(f), of the intent 
to repatriate a cultural item in the possession of the Field Museum of 
Natural History, Chicago, IL, that meets the definition of ``sacred 
object'' under 25 U.S.C. 3001.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 43 CFR 10.8(f). The 
determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the cultural 
item. The National Park Service is not responsible for the 
determinations in the notice.
    The cultural item is a totemic carving in the shape of a salmon 
(catalog number 14422). The carving is wood, and details such as the 
eye, mouth, gill, fins, and scales of the salmon are carved in low 
relief. The salmon is painted red and blue on a black background on one 
side. No details are carved or painted on the other side of the salmon. 
The carving is 2 feet 5 inches long, 8 inches at its widest point, and 
\1/2\ inch thick. Three holes through the body of the salmon appear to 
be from nails.
    At an unknown date Edward E. Ayer acquired the carving. In 1894, 
Mr. Ayer donated the carving to the Field Museum of Natural History and 
it was accessioned into the museum's collection in the same year 
(accession number 112). Museum records do not indicate how Mr. Ayer 
acquired the cultural object.
    The cultural affiliation of the carving is Sitka Tlingit, as 
indicated by museum records and by consultation evidence presented by 
the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes. The Central 
Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes requested the return of 
the carving on behalf of the L'ooknax.adi clan. Museum records indicate 
that the carving is a ``Totem of Kuthouse family-raven clan--Originally 
of gunah ho village [unknown word] Alsek River Northern Sitka.'' The 
``gunah ho village'' mentioned in museum records appears to be the 
equivalent of Gunaaxoo, the ancestral home of the L'ooknax.adi clan 
near the Alsek River in Alaska.
    Officials of the Field Museum of Natural History have determined 
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(C), the 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 Field Museum 
of Natural History also have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 
3001 (2), there is a relationship of shared group identity that can be 
reasonably traced between the sacred object and the Central Council of 
the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes, on behalf of the L'ooknax.adi clan.
    Officials of the Field Museum of Natural History assert that, 
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (13), the Field Museum of Natural History 
has right of possession of the sacred object. Officials of the Field 
Museum of Natural History recognize the significance of the sacred 
object to the L'ooknax.adi clan as represented by the Central Council 
of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes and reached an agreement with the 
Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes that allows the 
Field Museum of Natural History to return the sacred object to the 
Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes voluntarily, 
pursuant to the compromise of claim provisions of the Field Museum of 
Natural History's repatriation policy.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the sacred object should contact Jonathan 
Haas, MacArthur Curator of the Americas, Field Museum of Natural 
History, 1400 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605, telephone 
(312) 665-7829, before August 19, 2004. Repatriation of the sacred 
object to the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes on 
behalf of the L'ooknax.adi clan may proceed after that date if no 
additional claimants come forward.
    The Field Museum of Natural History is responsible for notifying 
the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes, L'ooknax.adi 
clan, Sealaska Corporation, Shee Atika, Inc., and Sitka Tribe of Alaska 
that this notice has been published.

John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources.
[FR Doc. 04-16145 Filed 7-19-04; 8:45 am]
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