[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 181 (Wednesday, September 19, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53599-53600]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-18484]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items: Kansas State 
Historical Society, Topeka, KS

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 Kansas State 
Historical Society, Topeka, KS that meet the definitions of ``sacred 
objects'' and

[[Page 53600]]

``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 two cultural items are a ceremonial wooden bowl (KSHS catalog 
number 56.32.12) and a woven bag (KSHS catalog number 56.32.39).
    On April 23, 1956, the cultural items were sold to the Kansas State 
Historical Society by the Logan Museum of Anthropology, Beloit College, 
Beloit, WI. Both cultural items were from the Heath Collection and 
identified as Ottawa. The Ottawa people are also called Odawa. Albert 
Green Heath was known to have collected cultural items from the Odawa 
at Little Traverse Bay, MI. Descendants of the Ottawa or Odawa are 
members of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan.
    Tribal representatives of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa 
Indians, Michigan have identified the two cultural items as being 
needed by traditional Odawa religious leaders for the practice of a 
traditional Native American religion by their present-day adherents. 
Furthermore, tribal representatives also have identified the two 
cultural items as having ongoing historical, traditional, and cultural 
importance central to the culture itself, and indicated that the 
cultural items could not have been alienated by any single individual.
    Officials of the Kansas State Historical Society have determined 
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(C), the two cultural items 
described above are specific ceremonial objects needed by traditional 
Native American religious leaders for the practice of traditional 
Native American religions by their present-day adherents. Officials of 
the Kansas State Historical Society also have determined that, pursuant 
to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(D), the two cultural items described above have 
ongoing historical, traditional, or cultural importance central to the 
Native American group or culture itself, rather than property owned by 
an individual. Lastly, officials of the Kansas State Historical Society 
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 objects/objects of cultural patrimony and the Little 
Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the sacred objects/objects of cultural 
patrimony should contact Robert Hoard, NAGPRA Coordinator, Kansas State 
Historical Society, 6425 SW Sixth Avenue, Topeka, KS 66542, telephone 
(785) 272-8681 (extension 269), before October 19, 2007. Repatriation 
of the sacred objects/objects of cultural patrimony to the Little 
Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan may proceed after that 
date if no additional claimants come forward.
    The Kansas State Historical Society is responsible for notifying 
the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan tribe that 
this notice has been published.

    Dated: September 5, 2007.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E7-18484 Filed 9-18-07; 8:45 am]
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