[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 117 (Tuesday, June 17, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34315-34316]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-13624]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: The Cleveland 
Museum of Natural History, Cleveland, OH

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 Cleveland Museum 
of Natural History, Cleveland, OH, that meet the definition of 
``unassociated funerary object'' and ``sacred object'' 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 1956, cultural items were acquired by The Cleveland Museum of 
Natural History from the Logan Museum, Beloit College, Beloit, WI. The 
two cultural items are one ceremonial wood bowl (CMNH 12888/CMNH 19888) 
and one silver brooch (CMNH 08169). Representatives of the Little 
Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan attributed the cultural 
items as Ottawa/Odawa.
    The bowl is well-made with a carved rim and knobs. The locality and 
date for the bowl are recorded as ``Michigan, Emmet County, early 
1900's.'' In Odawa spiritual practices, ceremonial bowls have a wide 
range of use and are utilized in many different ceremonial activities. 
It is believed that manidok (spirits) reside in each individual bowl 
and are a part of the community. It is the Tribe's continued 
responsibility to take care of these bowls and use them in ceremonies 
for sacred reasons, as such Traditional Religious leaders of the Little 
Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan need to use these bowls 
in ceremonies for the Tribe.
    The one silver brooch (CMNH 08169) is made from German silver in 
the shape of a disk with punched designs of circles, stars, and 
ellipses. The locality and date for the brooch are listed as 
``Michigan, Emmet County, late 1800's.'' Multiple archeological sites 
that are Native American burial sites or cemeteries in Michigan from 
the Historic Period contain an array of European trade goods, such as 
knives, glass beads and silver brooches (Halsey, 286). It is believed 
that the silver brooch in the possession of museum came from an Odawa 
grave based on similar objects found in other Odawa graves from 
Michigan. In addition, it is believed that the brooch is a grave item 
because it has been recorded as a Native American item and not just 
simply a piece of silver since the designation of such simple items to 
be of Native origin usually originates because it came from a Native 
American burial.
    Officials of The Cleveland Museum of Natural History have 
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(B), the one cultural 
item described above is reasonably believed to have been placed with or 
near individual human remains at the time of death or later as part of 
the death rite or ceremony and is believed, by a preponderance of the 
evidence, to have been removed from a specific burial site of a Native 
American individual. Officials of The Cleveland 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 Cleveland 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 unassociated funerary object and the sacred object and the 
Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan.

[[Page 34316]]

    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the unassociated funerary object and/or 
sacred object should contact Adriann Balok, Curator of Cultural 
Anthropology, The Cleveland Museum of Natural History, 1 Wade Oval Dr., 
University Circle, Cleveland, OH 44106, telephone (216) 231-4600, ext. 
3294, before July 17, 2008. Repatriation of the unassociated funerary 
object and sacred object to the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa 
Indians, Michigan may proceed after that date if no additional 
claimants come forward.
    The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is responsible for 
notifying the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan that 
this notice has been published.

    Dated: May 12, 2008.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E8-13624 Filed 6-16-08; 8:45 am]
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