[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 42 (Thursday, March 4, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 9925]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-4291]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate a Cultural Item: 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 a cultural item in the possession of The Cleveland Museum 
of Natural History, Cleveland, OH, that meets the definition of a 
``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 
item. The National Park Service is not responsible for the 
determinations in this notice.
    The sacred object is a wooden pipe. In 1956, a pipe stem was 
delivered to the museum. The pipe bowl was either not sent or misplaced 
when unwrapped. Thus, only part of the sacred object is currently in 
the collection. The pipe stem measures 58 cm in length and has a black 
snake curling around it (Accession Number 1956-32; Catalog Number CMNH 
08490). Since the bowl and stem are used together, together they 
comprise one object. Consequently, if the pipe bowl is found, it will 
be returned to the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, 
Michigan.
    The Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians provided written 
evidence, A Survey of Indian Groups in the State of Michigan, (Holst, 
1939), to show that Joe Shomin, an Odawa Chief, was an artist craftsman 
of great ability. According to catalogue records, Albert Heath acquired 
the pipe from Joe Shomin, an Odawa Indian, in Emmett County, MI. Today, 
Emmet County is within the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians 
reservation. Consultation evidence presented by tribal representatives' 
states that pipes were used in religious ceremonies by traditional 
Odawa religious leaders, and continue to be used in ceremonial 
practices.
    Officials of The Cleveland Museum of Natural History 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. 
Officials of The Cleveland 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 sacred object and the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa 
Indians, Michigan.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the sacred object should contact Carole 
Camillo, Registrar, The Cleveland Museum of Natural History, 1 Wade 
Oval Dr., University Circle, Cleveland, OH 44106, telephone (216) 231-
4600, before April 5, 2010. Repatriation of the 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: February 3, 2010.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2010-4291 Filed 3-3-10; 8:45 am]
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