[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 50 (Monday, March 16, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13604-13605]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-05979]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-17723; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Minnesota 
Historical Society, St. Paul, MN

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Minnesota Historical Society, 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. 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 Minnesota Historical Society. 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 Minnesota Historical Society 
at the address in this notice by April 15, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Leah Bowe, Minnesota Historical Society, 345 W. Kellogg 
Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55102, telephone (651) 259-3255, 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 Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul, MN, 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

[[Page 13605]]

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 1926, 57 cultural items, identified as a set of Midewiwin 
medicines, were removed from a cave at Crane Lake in St. Louis County, 
MN. The objects were discovered and removed by a group of men canoeing 
on the lake who took shelter in the cave during a storm. The objects 
(called the Crane Lake Cache by the Minnesota Historical Society) were 
transferred to the Minnesota Historical Society in 1927.
    In the near 90 years since their accession, some parts of the Crane 
Lake Cache have gone missing, and the current number of objects in the 
collection is 54. The 54 sacred objects still extant that comprise the 
Crane Lake Cache are: 4 birch bark scrolls; 3 birch bark disks; 1 
wooden disk; 1 birch bark container for medicine; 1 can rattle; 8 
invitation bird quills; 1 shooting diagram; 1 snakeskin bundle; the 
fragments of 1 water drum; 15 individual packages of medicines; 1 bear 
claw; 6 shells; 2 quartz crystals; 1 nut; 1 ceramic object; 1 otolith; 
5 glass beads; and 1 wooden container for medicines. The missing items 
are 1 sucking tube and 2 packages of medicine.
    Consultation with the Bois Forte Band (Nett Lake) of the Minnesota 
Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota, confirmed both that these materials fit the 
definition of sacred objects under NAGPRA, and that Crane Lake was 
within the boundaries of the traditional property of the Bois Forte 
Band.
    In 1987, the Minnesota Historical Society purchased the Nett Lake 
War Charm Necklace at Sotheby's Auctions. This object was identified as 
such at auction by the seller. Further provenance is unavailable for 
this object.
    Consultation with Bois Forte Band (Nett Lake) of the Minnesota 
Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota, confirmed both that this object fit the 
definition of a sacred object under NAGPRA, and that Nett Lake was 
within the boundaries of the traditional property of the Bois Forte 
Band.

Determinations Made by the Minnesota Historical Society

    Officials of the Minnesota Historical Society have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), the 55 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(2), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the sacred 
objects and the Bois Forte Band (Nett Lake) of the Minnesota Chippewa 
Tribe, Minnesota.

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 Leah Bowe, Minnesota Historical Society, 345 
W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55102, telephone (651) 259-3255, email 
[email protected], by April 15, 2015. After that date, if no 
additional claimants have come forward, transfer of control of the 
sacred objects to the Bois Forte Band (Nett Lake) of the Minnesota 
Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota, may proceed.
    The Minnesota Historical Society is responsible for notifying the 
Bois Forte Band (Nett Lake) of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota, 
that this notice has been published.

    Dated: February 23, 2015.
Melanie O'Brien,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2015-05979 Filed 3-13-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-50-P