[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 56 (Monday, March 24, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16040-16041]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-06270]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-15091;PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Forest Service, Coconino National Forest, Flagstaff, AZ

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service, 
Coconino National Forest, in consultation with the appropriate Indian 
tribes, has determined that the cultural items listed in this notice 
meet the definition of objects of cultural patrimony. Representatives 
of any Indian tribe not identified in this notice that wish to claim 
these cultural items should submit a written request to the USDA Forest 
Service, Southwestern Region. If no additional claimants come forward, 
transfer of control of the cultural items to the Indian tribes stated 
in this notice may proceed.

DATES: Representatives of any Indian tribe 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 USDA Forest 
Service, Southwestern Region, at the address in this notice by April 
23, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Frank E. Wozniak, NAGPRA Coordinator, Southwestern 
Region, USDA Forest Service, 333 Broadway Blvd. SE., Albuquerque, NM 
87102, telephone (505) 842-3238, 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 in the physical 
custody of the Museum of Northern Arizona and under the control of the 
USDA Forest Service, Coconino National Forest, that meet the definition 
of 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 Item(s)

    Between 1936 and 1947, several fragments of painted wooden sticks 
were removed from prehistoric archeological sites on lands administered 
by the USDA Forest Service in Coconino County, AZ. These items were 
collected by private individuals without permission or knowledge of the 
USDA Forest Service. In 1981, these items were donated to the Museum of 
Northern Arizona, where they are currently housed, with the USDA Forest 
Service retaining legal control of the items.
    The fragments of wooden sticks comprise an unknown number of whole 
items, but are represented by three catalog numbers at the museum 
(A12399, A12995, and A12998). All of the items consist of wooden sticks 
ranging in diameter from 1-2.5 cm but are of unknown length due to 
breakage. The sticks are covered with blue and green paint derived from 
natural mineral sources. The sticks were removed from locations 
referred to as 43 Ruin and Blue Stick Ruin by the private individuals 
who collected them, but these are not official Forest Service site 
names.
    Consultation with anthropologists at the Museum of Northern Arizona 
and cultural specialists from the Hopi Tribe of Arizona indicate that 
these items are pahos, or prayer sticks. During consultation, the Hopi 
cultural specialists and personnel from the Hopi Cultural Preservation 
Office stated that these pahos have ongoing historical,

[[Page 16041]]

traditional, and cultural importance central to the Hopi Tribe and 
culture, rather than being property owned by an individual. The Hopi 
Cultural Preservation Office, representing the cultural specialists and 
religious leaders, has requested repatriation of these objects.

Determinations Made by the USDA Forest Service

    Officials of the USDA Forest Service have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(D), the three 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 objects 
of cultural patrimony and Hopi Tribe of Arizona.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Representatives of any Indian tribe not identified in this notice 
that wish to claim these objects of cultural patrimony should submit a 
written request with information in support of the claim to Dr. Frank 
E. Wozniak, NAGPRA Coordinator, Southwestern Region, USDA Forest 
Service, 333 Broadway Blvd. SE., Albuquerque, NM 87102, telephone (505) 
842-3238, email [email protected]., by April 23, 2014. After that 
date, if no additional claimants have come forward, transfer of control 
of these objects of cultural patrimony to the Hopi Tribe of Arizona may 
proceed.
    The USDA Forest Service is responsible for notifying the Hopi Tribe 
of Arizona and the Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico, that 
this notice has been published.

Melanie O'Brien,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2014-06270 Filed 3-21-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-P