[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 223 (Tuesday, November 20, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65353-65354]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-22674]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate a Cultural Item: American Museum 
of Natural History, New York, NY

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 American Museum 
of Natural History, New York, NY, that meets the definitions of 
``sacred object'' and ``object 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 cultural item is a fan-shaped headdress with an attached mask. 
The headdress is approximately 91 centimeters in length, 87 centimeters 
wide, and 4 centimeters in depth. The mask is a cloth, Loveland flour 
sack with its brand marking still visible. It is perforated with three 
holes near the eyes and mouth. The headdress is arranged in two ranks 
of wooden slats connected by cross pieces in the center and on either 
end, making the shape of a fan. The top rank contains thirty-two slats 
and both sides are painted with six diamonds of red and yellow. The 
bottom rank contains fourteen slats and both sides are painted with 
three triangles that are also red and yellow.
    This cultural item was acquired by Mrs. Amelia E. White, though the 
circumstances of her acquisition are unknown. In 1937, the museum 
acquired the headdress from Mrs. White as a gift. The museum 
accessioned the item in 1937. The cultural affiliation of the cultural 
item is San Carlos Apache, as indicated by museum records and by 
consultation evidence presented by the Western Apache Working Group, 
which consists of the authorized NAGPRA representatives from the San 
Carlos Apache Tribe of the San Carlos Reservation, Arizona; Tonto 
Apache Tribe of Arizona; White Mountain Apache Tribe of the Fort Apache 
Reservation, Arizona; and Yavapai-Apache Nation of the Camp Verde 
Indian Reservation, Arizona.
    Officials of the American Museum of Natural History 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 American 
Museum of Natural History also have determined that, pursuant to 25 
U.S.C. 3001 (3)(C), the one cultural item described above 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. Lastly, officials of the American Museum 
of Natural History 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/object of cultural 
patrimony and

[[Page 65354]]

the San Carlos Apache Tribe of the San Carlos Reservation, Arizona.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the sacred object/object of cultural 
patrimony should contact Nell Murphy, Director of Cultural Resources, 
American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, 
New York, NY 10024, telephone (212) 769-5837, before December 20, 2007. 
Repatriation of the sacred object/object of cultural patrimony to the 
San Carlos Apache Tribe of the San Carlos Reservation, Arizona may 
proceed after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
    The American Museum of Natural History is responsible for notifying 
the San Carlos Apache Tribe of the San Carlos Reservation, Arizona; 
Tonto Apache Tribe of Arizona; White Mountain Apache Tribe of the Fort 
Apache Reservation, Arizona; and Yavapai-Apache Nation of the Camp 
Verde Indian Reservation, Arizona that this notice has been published.

    Dated: October 18, 2007
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E7-22674 Filed 11-19-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S