[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 176 (Wednesday, September 10, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52676-52677]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-21011]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Field Museum of 
Natural History, Chicago, IL

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 Field Museum of 
Natural History (Field Museum), Chicago, IL, that meet the definition 
of ``unassociated funerary 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.
    The two cultural items are a rattle and a worked walrus tusk.
    The rattle (catalog number 78326) is carved wood with shell or 
glass bead rattlers. It is painted with blue and red mineral paints. 
The body of the rattle represents an oyster catcher. The handle of the 
rattle is wrapped with a strip of black leather, and string is wrapped 
around the upper neck of the oyster catcher. It measures approximately 
13 inches long and 3 inches wide.
    The worked walrus tusk (catalog number 78074) is comprised of four 
sections. Each section measures approximately 11 inches long.
    According to Field Museum records, the walrus tusk sections were 
``found in an old cave on a small Island in Icy Straits where a Shaman 
of the `Hoonah' tribe was laid away.'' The rattle was ``believed to 
have come from an old grave house on the shores of Frederick Bay, near 
the village of `Gan-der-kan,' of the `Hoonah tribe'.''
    At an unknown date, Lieutenant Emmons acquired the walrus tusk 
sections and rattle. In 1902, the Field Museum of Natural History 
purchased the cultural items from Lieutenant Emmons, and accessioned 
them into its collection that same year.
    The cultural affiliation of the two cultural items is Hoonah 
Tlingit, as indicated through museum records and consultation with 
representatives of the Hoonah Indian Association.
    Officials of the Field Museum of Natural History have determined 
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(B), the two cultural items 
described above are reasonably believed to have been placed with or 
near individual human remains at the time of death or later as part of 
a death rite or ceremony and are believed, by a preponderance of the 
evidence, to have been removed from a specific burial site of a Native 
American individual. Officials of the Field Museum of Natural History 
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 unassociated funerary objects and the Hoonah Indian 
Association.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the unassociated funerary objects should 
contact Helen Robbins, Repatriation Director, Field Museum of Natural 
History, 1400 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605, telephone 
(312) 665-7317, before October 10, 2008. Repatriation of the 
unassociated funerary objects to the Hoonah Indian Association may 
proceed after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
    The Field Museum of Natural History is responsible for notifying 
the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes, Hoonah Indian 
Association,

[[Page 52677]]

Huna Totem Corporation, and Sealaska Heritage Foundation that this 
notice has been published.

    Dated: August 20, 2008
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E8-21011 Filed 9-9-08; 8:45 am]
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