[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 139 (Friday, July 18, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 41376]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-16469]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items: U.S. Department of 
the Interior, National Park Service, Intermountain Region, 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 U.S. Department 
of the Interior, National Park Service, Intermountain Region, Santa Fe, 
NM, that meet the definition of ``sacred objects'' and ``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 
NAGPRA coordinator, Intermountain Region.
    In 1994, the National Park Service assisted the Federal Bureau of 
Investigation and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service with the 
investigation of a Migratory Bird Treaty Act violation. The evidence 
included a collection of Native American objects confiscated from the 
East-West Trading Post in Santa Fe, NM. Preliminary subject matter 
expert review of the collection indicated that the objects were 
historically significant and potentially subject to NAGPRA. The 
collection was accessioned in 2002 into the Southwest Regional Office 
collections, now called the Intermountain Region Office. The two 
cultural items from the collection covered in this notice are one 
Kachina with feather and one Hopi Tablita with pheasant feathers.
    Following adjudication of the case, a detailed assessment of the 
objects was made by Intermountain Region (IMR) NAGPRA program staff in 
close collaboration with the IMR Museum Services program staff and in 
consultation with representatives of potentially affiliated tribes. 
Representatives of the Hopi Cultural Preservation Office, acting on 
behalf of the Momngwit (Priests) and the Hopi Tribe of Arizona, 
identified the cultural items as specific ceremonial objects needed by 
the Momngwit for the practice of a traditional Hopi religion by their 
present-day adherents. Further, representatives of the Hopi Tribe of 
Arizona identified the two cultural items as objects of cultural 
patrimony having on-going historical, traditional, and cultural 
importance central to the Hopi Tribe that could not be alienated by any 
individual. Oral tradition evidence presented by representatives of the 
Hopi Tribe of Arizona, and the written repatriation request received by 
the Intermountain Region further articulated the ceremonial 
significance of the cultural items to the Hopi Tribe of Arizona. Based 
on anthropological information, court case documentation, oral 
tradition, museum records, consultation evidence, and expert opinion, 
there is a cultural affiliation between the Hopi Tribe of Arizona and 
the two sacred objects/objects of cultural patrimony.
    Officials of the Intermountain Region 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 
Intermountain Region 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. Officials of the Intermountain Region 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/objects of cultural patrimony and the Hopi Tribe of Arizona.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the sacred objects/objects of cultural 
patrimony should contact Dave Ruppert, NAGPRA Coordinator, NPS 
Intermountain Region, 12795 West Alameda Parkway, Lakewood, CO 80228, 
telephone (303) 969-2879, before August 18, 2008. Repatriation of the 
sacred objects/objects of cultural patrimony to the Hopi Tribe of 
Arizona may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come 
forward.
    The Intermountain Region is responsible for notifying the Apache 
Tribe of Oklahoma; Fort Sill Apache Tribe of Oklahoma; Hopi Tribe of 
Arizona; Jicarilla Apache Nation, New Mexico; Mescalero Apache Tribe of 
the Mescalero Reservation, New Mexico; Navajo Nation, Arizona, New 
Mexico & Utah; Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico (formerly the Pueblo of San 
Juan); Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; Pueblo of Cochiti, New Mexico; 
Pueblo of Jemez, New Mexico; Pueblo of Isleta, New Mexico; Pueblo of 
Laguna, New Mexico; Pueblo of Nambe, New Mexico; Pueblo of Picuris, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Pojoaque, New Mexico; Pueblo of San Felipe, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of San Ildefonso, New Mexico; Pueblo of Sandia, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Ana, New Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Clara, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Santo Domingo, New Mexico; Pueblo of Taos, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Tesuque, New Mexico; Pueblo of Zia, New Mexico; San 
Carlos Apache Tribe of the San Carlos Reservation, Arizona; Tonto 
Apache Tribe of Arizona; Ute Mountain Tribe of the Ute Mountain 
Reservation, Colorado, New Mexico & Utah; White Mountain Apache Tribe 
of the Fort Apache Reservation, Arizona; Yavapai-Apache Nation of the 
Camp Verde Indian Reservation, Arizona; Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo of Texas; 
and Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico that this notice has 
been published.

    Dated: June 24, 2008
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E8-16469 Filed 7-17-08; 8:45 am]
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