[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 177 (Thursday, September 13, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52389-52390]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-18099]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items: School for 
Advanced Research, Santa Fe, NM

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 cultural items in the possession of the School for 
Advanced Research, Santa Fe, NM, that meet 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.
    At an unknown date, Mary Cabot Wheelwright of Alcalde, NM, acquired 
four beads, one pendant, and one metal ``tinkler'' from the Finger 
Lakes region of New York. In 1941, Ms. Wheelwright donated the six 
cultural items to the School of Advanced Research (formerly the School 
of American Research), Santa Fe, NM.
    The first bead is a carved, Catlinite, animal effigy bead with a 
drilled center hole, and approximately .87 cm wide and 2.2 cm long 
(IAF.M302). The second bead is a cylindrical, carved Catlinite bead 
with a hole drilled through its full length, and approximately 4.2 cm 
long and .4 cm in diameter (IAF.M304). The third bead is a carved shell 
bead that is triangular in shape with a hole drilled though its center, 
and approximately 1 cm wide and .3 cm deep (IAF.M305). The fourth bead 
is a tubular, animal bone bead that is approximately 5 cm long and .6 
cm in diameter (IAF.M306).
    The pendant is a carved, Catlinite pendant resembling a human face 
with a drilled hole at the top, and approximately 2 cm long and 1.6 cm 
wide (IAF.M303). The metal ``tinkler,'' or cone-shaped ornament, is 
approximately 5.6 cm long and .7 cm in diameter at the bottom 
(IAF.M307).
    The six cultural items originated from the Finger Lakes region of 
New York, which is the aboriginal territory of the Haudenosaunee 
Confederacy, representing the six nations of Cayuga, Mohawk, Onondaga, 
Oneida, Seneca, and Tuscarora. Present day members of the Haudenosaunee 
Confederacy are represented by the Cayuga Nation of New York; Oneida 
Nation of New York; Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin; Onondaga 
Nation of New York; Seneca Nation of New York; Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of 
Oklahoma; Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, New York (formerly the St. Regis 
Band of Mohawk Indians of New York); Tonawanda Band of Seneca Indians 
of New York; and Tuscarora Nation of New York. According to 
Haudenosaunee oral history, the Onondaga Nation is the keeper of the 
central hearth and fire where the Grand Council of the Confederacy 
meets. As the keeper of the central fire, the Onondaga Nation is 
responsible for the care of Haudenosaunee cultural patrimony that is 
not specifically affiliated with any one Haudenosaunee Nation, and for 
returning such objects to the particular Confederacy Nation as 
appropriate. Oral evidence presented during consultation by 
representatives of the Onondaga Nation of New York identifies the six 
cultural items as having ongoing historical, traditional, and cultural 
importance central to the Onondaga Nation of New York. Such items are 
considered ``precious,'' may be utilized in ceremony and other cultural 
events as items that are passed among members of the Confederacy for 
use within the Confederacy.
    Officials of the Indian Arts Research Center, School for Advanced 
Research have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(D), the 
six cultural items described above have ongoing historical, 
traditional, or cultural importance central to the Native American 
group of culture itself, rather than property owned by an individual. 
Officials of the Indian Arts Research Center, School for Advanced 
Research 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 objects of cultural patrimony and the Cayuga Nation 
of New York; Oneida Nation of New York; Oneida Tribe of Indians of 
Wisconsin; Onondaga Nation of New York; Seneca Nation of New York; 
Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma; Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, New York; 
Tonawanda Band of Seneca Indians of New York; and Tuscarora Nation of 
New York.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the items of cultural patrimony should 
contact Carolyn McArthur, Collections Manager/NAGPRA Officer, Indian 
Arts Research Center, School for Advanced Research, P.O. Box 2188, 
Santa Fe, NM 87504,

[[Page 52390]]

telephone (505) 954-7270, before October 15, 2007. Repatriation of the 
objects of cultural patrimony to the Onondaga Nation of New York, as 
keepers of the central fire for the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, may 
proceed after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
    The Indian Arts Research Center, School for Advanced Research is 
responsible for notifying the Cayuga Nation of New York; Oneida Nation 
of New York; Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin; Onondaga Nation of 
New York; Seneca Nation of New York; Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma; 
Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, New York; Tonawanda Band of Seneca Indians of 
New York; and Tuscarora Nation of New York that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: August 20, 2007
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E7-18099 Filed 9-12-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S