[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 139 (Friday, July 18, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41377-41378]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-16484]


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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 20 
cultural items covered in this notice are 7 hoof rattles; 2 leather 
hide rattles; 1 pouch; 1 prayer sticks bundle with eagle feather; 1 
heron's head bundle; 1 rattle with feathers; 1 medicine sack/kit; 1 
bundle eagle feathers; 2 cranes head bundles; and 3 prayer sticks with 
eagle 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. 
During consultation, representatives of the Navajo Nation, Arizona, New 
Mexico & Utah, identified the 20 cultural items as Navajo jish needed 
by traditional Navajo religious leaders for use in several major Navajo 
ceremonies widely practiced by

[[Page 41378]]

members of the present-day Navajo tribe. Further, representatives of 
the Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico & Utah, identified the 20 
cultural items as objects of cultural patrimony having on-going 
historical, traditional, and cultural importance central to the Navajo 
people that could not be alienated by any individual. The written 
request for repatriation submitted by the Navajo Nation, Arizona, New 
Mexico & Utah, further articulated the particular ceremonial 
significance of the cultural items and of Navajo traditional laws 
regarding the possession of jish. Based on anthropological information, 
court case documentation, museum records, consultation evidence, and 
expert opinion, there is a cultural affiliation between the Navajo 
Nation, Arizona, New Mexico & Utah and the 20 sacred objects/objects of 
cultural patrimony.
    Officials of the Intermountain Region have determined that, 
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(C), the 20 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 20 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 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 Navajo 
Nation, Arizona, New Mexico & Utah.
    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 Navajo Nation, 
Arizona, New Mexico & Utah 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. E8-16484 Filed 7-17-08; 8:45 am]
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