[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 104 (Wednesday, June 1, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 31530]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-10807]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate a Cultural Item: Phoebe A. Hearst 
Museum of Anthropology at the University of California, Berkeley, 
Berkeley, CA

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), 25 U.S.C. 3005, of the intent 
to repatriate a cultural item in the possession of the Phoebe A. Hearst 
Museum of Anthropology at the University of California, Berkeley, 
Berkeley, CA that meets the definition of ``objects 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, 25 U.S.C. 3003 (d)(3). 
The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the cultural 
items. The National Park Service is not responsible for the 
determinations in this notice.
    The one cultural item is a Tlingit Chilkat tunic with a 
Kaagwaantaan Clan of Klukwan bear crest. In 1977, the cultural item was 
donated to the Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology at the 
University of California, Berkeley by the daughter of the original 
purchaser, who had acquired the tunic from the widow of a Tlingit 
Kaagwaantaan Clan leader during the 1930s.
    The Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology at the University of 
California, Berkeley consulted with Sealaska Corporation, acting on 
behalf of the Kaagwaantaan Clan of Klukwan. Museum records contain a 
photograph circa 1900 showing the Kaagwaantaan Clan leader wearing the 
Chilkat tunic with bear crest. Written records obtained at the time of 
the donation indicate that the Chilkat tunic was worn at a potlatch 
given by Chief Shakes in Wrangel, AK in 1879. Museum records also 
indicate that the widow knew that the tunic should not be sold. 
Sealaska Corporation provided further evidence that the Chilkat tunic 
with bear crest was the property of the Kaagwaantaan Clan, could not 
have been conveyed by any individual tribal member, and should be 
returned as an object of cultural patrimony. The Phoebe A. Hearst 
Museum of Anthropology at the University of California, Berkeley agrees 
with the evidence and therefore will repatriate the Chilkat tunic with 
bear crest to the Sealaska Corporation, acting on behalf of the 
Kaagwaantaan Clan of Klukwan.
    Officials of the Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology at the 
University of California, Berkeley have determined that, pursuant to 25 
U.S.C. 3001 (3)(D), the one 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 Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology at 
the University of California, Berkeley 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 Kaagwaantaan Clan of Klukwan, represented by the 
Sealaska Corporation.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the object of cultural patrimony should 
contact C. Richard Hitchcock, NAGPRA Coordinator, Phoebe A. Hearst 
Museum of Anthropology at the University of California, Berkeley, 
Berkeley, CA 94720, telephone (510) 642-6096, before July 1, 2005. 
Repatriation of the object of cultural patrimony to the Sealaska 
Corporation, acting on behalf of the Kaagwaantaan Clan of Klukwan, may 
proceed after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
    The Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology at the University of 
California, Berkeley is responsible for notifying Chilkat Indian 
Village (Klukwan); Klukwan, Inc.; and Sealaska Corporation that this 
notice has been published.

    Dated: May 20, 2005.
Paul Hoffman,
Deputy Assisstant Secretary, Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 05-10807 Filed 5-31-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S