[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 247 (Friday, December 23, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80390-80391]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-33008]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[2253-665]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: U.S. Department of 
the Interior, National Park Service, Little Bighorn Battlefield 
National Monument, Crow Agency, MT

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, in consultation 
with the appropriate Indian tribes, has determined that the cultural 
items meet the definition of sacred objects and repatriation to the 
lineal descendant stated below may occur if no additional claimants 
come forward. Any other individuals who believe they are lineal 
descendants of the individual who owned these sacred objects and who 
wish to claim the items should contact Little Bighorn Battlefield 
National Monument.

DATES: Any other individuals who believe they are lineal descendants of 
the individual who owned these sacred objects who wish to claim the 
items should contact Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument at 
the address below by January 23, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Kate Hammond, Superintendent, Little Bighorn Battlefield 
National Monument, P.O. Box 39, Crow Agency, MT 59022-0039, telephone 
(406) 638-3201.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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, Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Crow Agency, MT 
that meet the definition of sacred 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 
Superintendent, Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument.

History and Description of the Cultural Items

    The two cultural items are an eagle bone whistle and a tanned deer 
hide skirt. A white eagle plume feather and sage are attached to the 
whistle with sinew strips and ribbon. The skirt is fastened together 
with leather thongs and traces of black and red earth paint are visible 
on the leather. In 1967, the whistle and the skirt were purchased from 
James Little Bird by the Custer Battlefield Historic Museum Association 
and later donated to Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument.
    Lloyd Littlebird, Sr., son of James Little Bird, is requesting 
repatriation of the two cultural items described above. The two items 
are needed by Mr. Littlebird to continue traditional ceremonies. The 
Northern Cheyenne Cultural Commission and Tribal Historic Preservation 
Office corroborated Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument's 
determination that Lloyd Littlebird, Sr. is the most appropriate 
recipient under the Northern Cheyenne traditional kinship system and 
common law system of descendance.

Determinations Made by Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument

    Officials of Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument 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.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3005(a)(5)(A), Mr. Littlebird is the 
direct lineal descendant of the individual who owned these sacred 
objects.

[[Page 80391]]

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Any other individuals who believe they are lineal descendants of 
the individual who owned these sacred objects and who wish to claim the 
items should contact Kate Hammond, Superintendent, Little Bighorn 
Battlefield National Monument, P.O. Box 39, Crow Agency, MT 59022-0039, 
telephone (406) 638-3201, before January 23, 2012. Repatriation of the 
sacred objects to Mr. Lloyd Littlebird, Sr. may proceed after that date 
if no additional claimants come forward.
    Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument is responsible for 
notifying Mr. Lloyd Littlebird, Sr.; Arapaho Tribe of the Wind River 
Reservation, Wyoming; Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck 
Indian Reservation, Montana; Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, Oklahoma 
(formerly the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma); Cheyenne River 
Sioux Tribe of the Cheyenne River Reservation, South Dakota; Crow Creek 
Sioux Tribe of the Crow Creek Reservation, South Dakota; Crow Tribe of 
Montana; Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe of South Dakota; Lower Brule 
Sioux Tribe of the Lower Brule Reservation, South Dakota; Northern 
Cheyenne Tribe of the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, Montana; 
Oglala Sioux Tribe of the Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota; Rosebud 
Sioux Tribe of the Rosebud Indian Reservation, South Dakota; Santee 
Sioux Nation, Nebraska; Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse 
Reservation, South Dakota; Spirit Lake Tribe, North Dakota; Standing 
Rock Sioux Tribe of North & South Dakota; Three Affiliated Tribes of 
the Fort Berthold Reservation, North Dakota; and the Yankton Sioux 
Tribe of South Dakota that this notice has been published.

    Dated: December 20, 2011.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2011-33008 Filed 12-22-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-P