[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 62 (Monday, March 31, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 16903]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-6573]



[[Page 16903]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items: Science Museum of 
Minnesota, St. Paul, MN

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 Science Museum of 
Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, that meet the definition of ``sacred objects'' 
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.
    In August of 1961, Mrs. Sidney A. Peterson purchased five objects 
relating to the Midewiwin religion from Jack Chicag of Nett Lake, MN. 
The five cultural items are two beaded panels with human designs (61-
1420 and 61-1419), one bear paw bag (61-1439), one cat paw bag (61-
1438), and one tin can with pine residue (61-1410).
    Museum accession, catalogue, collector notes and purchase records, 
as well as consultation with representatives of the Bois Forte Band 
(Nett Lake) of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota, indicate that 
the five cultural objects are Chippewa and are from the Nett Lake 
Reservation, and are sacred objects. The sacred objects are derived 
from the Midewiwin Society, also known as the Medicine Lodge Society, 
and needed by Midewiwin Society members to conduct ceremonies and 
religious leaders of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota for the 
practice of traditional Native American religious ceremonies.
    Officials of the Science Museum of Minnesota have determined that, 
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(C), the five 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 
Science Museum of Minnesota 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 sacred objects and the Bois Forte 
Band (Nett Lake) of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the sacred objects should contact Tilly 
Laskey, Curator of Ethnology, Science Museum of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 
55102, telephone (651) 221-9432 before April 30, 2008. Repatriation of 
the sacred objects to the Bois Forte Band (Nett Lake) of the Minnesota 
Chippewa Tribe Minnesota may proceed after that date if no additional 
claimants come forward.
    The Science Museum of Minnesota is responsible for notifying the 
Bois Forte Band (Nett Lake) of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota 
that this notice has been published.

    Dated: February 18, 2008.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E8-6573 Filed 3-28-08; 8:45 am]
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