[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 148 (Tuesday, August 3, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 46566]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-17580]


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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 
``cultural patrimony'' 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 painted wooden hat (catalog number 79224). 
The conical and sloping hat has a three-dimensional carving of a sea 
lion and is incised with crest designs. The hat is painted white, red, 
and greenish-blue. The wooden portion of the hat is topped with three 
stacked, basketry ``potlatch'' rings.
    At an unknown date, Lieutenant George Thorton Emmons purchased the 
hat. In 1902, the Field Museum of Natural History purchased the hat 
from Lieutenant Emmons and accessioned the hat into its collection in 
the same year (accession number 807).
    The cultural affiliation of the hat is ``Tlingit, Sitka'' 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 hat on behalf of the Kaagwaantaan clan. Museum records indicate 
that the hat was ``formerly the property of `Anna-hootz' [Anaxoots] the 
hereditary chief of the `Kargwautore' [Kaagwaantaan] family of the 
Sitka tribe.''
    Officials of the Field Museum of Natural History have determined 
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(D), the cultural item described 
above has ongoing historical, traditional, or cultural importance 
central to the Native American group or culture itself, rather than 
property owned by an individual. 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 object of cultural patrimony and the 
Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes, on behalf of the 
Kaagwaantaan 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 object of cultural patrimony. Officials 
of the Field Museum of Natural History recognize the significance of 
the object of cultural patrimony to the Kaagwaantaan 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 object of cultural patrimony 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 object of cultural patrimony 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 September 2, 2004. Repatriation of the 
object of cultural patrimony to the Central Council of the Tlingit & 
Haida Indian Tribes on behalf of the Kaagwaantaan 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, Kaagwaantaan 
clan, Sealaska Corporation, and Sitka Tribe of Alaska that this notice 
has been published.

    Dated: May 7, 2004
John Robbins,
Assistant Director, Cultural Resources.
[FR Doc. 04-17580 Filed 8-2-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S