[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 113 (Tuesday, June 12, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34986-34987]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-14311]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-10376; 2200-1100-665]


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 (LIBI), 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 LIBI.

DATES: 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 LIBI at the address below by July 12, 2012.

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

[[Page 34987]]


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, LIBI, 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, LIBI.

History and Description of the Cultural Items

    The 18 cultural items are part of a medicine bundle and are one 
satchel made out of animal hide, 13 small medicine bags, and four 
stones. The items belonged to Spotted Hawk who resided on the Northern 
Cheyenne Reservation. On August 4, 1930, Cecilia Spotted Wolf, Spotted 
Hawk's sister, traded or gifted the items to Dr. Thomas B. Marquis, a 
physician on the Tongue River Reservation (Northern Cheyenne). In 1942, 
the 18 objects were donated to Custer Battlefield National Cemetery, 
now known as LIBI, by Dr. Marquis' daughters, Mrs. Millie Ellen Marquis 
Hastings and Mrs. Anna Rose Octavia Marquis Heil.
    Jean Spotted Wolf Emmons, great-grand niece of Spotted Hawk, is 
requesting repatriation of the 18 cultural items. The medicine bundle 
is needed by Mrs. Emmons to continue traditional ceremonies. LIBI 
consulted with the Northern Cheyenne Cultural Commission and Tribal 
Historic Preservation Office to determine that Jean Emmons is an 
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 LIBI have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), the 18 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), Mrs. Emmons is the 
direct lineal descendant of the individual who owned these sacred 
objects.

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 Gus Sanchez, Acting Superintendent, Little Bighorn 
Battlefield National Monument, P.O. Box 39, Crow Agency, MT 59022-0039, 
telephone (406) 638-3201, before July 12, 2012. Repatriation of the 
sacred objects to Mrs. Jean Spotted Wolf Emmons may proceed after that 
date if no additional claimants come forward.
    LIBI is responsible for notifying Mrs. Jean Spotted Wolf Emmons; 
the 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: June 7, 2012.
David Tarler,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2012-14311 Filed 6-11-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-P