[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 232 (Tuesday, December 3, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 72710]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-28929]



[[Page 72710]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-14381; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Denver Art Museum, 
Denver, CO

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Denver Art Museum, in consultation with the appropriate 
Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, has determined that the 
cultural items listed in this notice meet the definition of sacred 
objects and objects of cultural patrimony. Lineal descendants or 
representatives of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not 
identified in this notice that wish to claim these cultural items 
should submit a written request to the Denver Art Museum. If no 
additional claimants come forward, transfer of control of the cultural 
items to the lineal descendants, Indian tribes, or Native Hawaiian 
organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

DATES: Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or 
Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
claim these cultural items should submit a written request with 
information in support of the claim to the Denver Art Museum at the 
address in this notice by January 2, 2014.

ADDRESSES: John P. Lukavic, Ph.D., Denver Art Museum, 100 W 14th Avenue 
Parkway, Denver, CO 80204, telephone (720) 913-0160, email 
[email protected].

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 under the 
control of the Denver Art Museum, Denver, CO, 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 
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the Native 
American cultural items. The National Park Service is not responsible 
for the determinations in this notice.

History and Description of the Cultural Items

    In 1903, one cultural item was removed from the Pueblo of Laguna in 
Cibola, Valencia, Bernalillo and Sandoval counties, NM. One other 
cultural item is believed to have been removed from the same community 
at the same time. These two items were collected by Stewart Culin, the 
first curator that collected American Indian items for the Brooklyn 
Museum. The Denver Art Museum subsequently acquired the two items from 
the Brooklyn Museum through an exchange in 1948. The items are two 
Katsina Friends and meet the definition of both objects of cultural 
patrimony and sacred objects.
    The review of available documentation, in addition to physical 
inspections by multiple Pueblo of Laguna delegations, has resulted in 
confirmation from Pueblo of Laguna religious leaders that the two 
Katsina Friends are of Pueblo of Laguna origin. The Pueblo of Laguna 
asserts that a relationship of shared group identity exists between the 
Pueblo of Laguna in 1903, and the present-day Pueblo of Laguna. These 
Katsina Friends were created within the Pueblo of Laguna religious 
system with construction techniques still used today. In addition to 
the positive identification by Laguna religious leaders that the two 
Katsina Friends are of Laguna Pueblo origin, cultural affiliation with 
the Pueblo of Laguna is evident by a variety of diagnostic features. 
The catalog cards also associate these two items with ``Laguna.''

Determinations Made by the Denver Art Museum

    Officials of the Denver Art Museum 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. 3001(3)(D), the two 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.
     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 and objects of cultural patrimony and the Pueblo of Laguna, New 
Mexico.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native 
Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to claim 
these cultural items should submit a written request with information 
in support of the claim to John P. Lukavic, Ph.D., Denver Art Museum, 
100 W 14th Avenue Pkwy, Denver, CO 80204, telephone (720) 913-0160, 
email [email protected], by January 2, 2014. After that 
date, if no additional claimants have come forward, transfer of control 
of the sacred objects and objects of cultural patrimony to Pueblo of 
Laguna, New Mexico may proceed.
    The Denver Art Museum is responsible for notifying the Pueblo of 
Laguna that this notice has been published.

    Dated: October 30, 2013.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2013-28929 Filed 12-2-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-P