[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 32 (Thursday, February 18, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8216-8217]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-03411]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-20233; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Mount Holyoke 
College Art Museum, South Hadley, MA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Mount Holyoke College Art Museum, in consultation with the 
appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, has 
determined that the cultural item listed in this notice meets the 
definition of a sacred object and object of cultural patrimony. Lineal 
descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian 
organization not identified in this notice that wish to claim this 
cultural item should submit a written request to the Mount Holyoke 
College Art Museum. If no additional claimants come forward, transfer 
of control of the cultural item 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 this cultural item should submit a written request with 
information in support of the claim to the Mount Holyoke College Art 
Museum at the address in this notice by March 21, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Aaron F. Miller, NAGPRA Coordinator, Mount Holyoke College 
Art Museum, 50 College Street, South Hadley, MA 01075, telephone (413) 
538-3394, 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 a cultural item under the 
control of the Mount Holyoke College Art Museum that meets the 
definition of a sacred object and an object 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 item. The National Park Service is not responsible 
for the determinations in this notice.

[[Page 8217]]

History and Description of the Cultural Item

    In 2014, one cultural item was donated to the Mount Holyoke College 
Art Museum by the children of J. Donald Detenber, from Westborough, MA. 
Detenber was a collector and dealer in Native American objects, and it 
is unclear when and where he acquired the object. Detenber was most 
active in the 1980s and 1990s and purchased from various dealers and 
auction houses across the country. The sacred object/object of cultural 
patrimony is a woven cotton sash.
    This type of textile was used primarily by the bride in the 
traditional Hopi wedding ceremony and can be seen in various 
photographs from the early 20th century. As part of the ceremony, 
cotton was collected from various members of the community and woven by 
a specific group of relatives. Another known use of these sashes is the 
Powamu Festival, centered on the seasonal planting of beans. One aspect 
of the ceremonies is the imitation of Katchinas (ancestral spirits). In 
some cases, men would don the sash to dress as female Katchina spirits 
or women in general. One such female Katchina is Angwusnasomtaka (Crow 
Mother), who is often represented with this type of sash. Based on the 
above definitions and a general knowledge of these objects being used 
in various types of ceremonies, there is a relationship of shared group 
identity that can be reasonably traced between the cultural item and 
the Hopi Tribe of Arizona.

Determinations Made by the Mount Holyoke College Art Museum

    Officials of the Mount Holyoke College Art Museum have determined 
that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), the one cultural item 
described above is a 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 one cultural item 
described above has 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 
object and object of cultural patrimony and the Hopi Tribe of Arizona.

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 
this cultural item should submit a written request with information in 
support of the claim to Aaron F. Miller, NAGPRA Coordinator, Mount 
Holyoke College Art Museum, 50 College Street, South Hadley, MA 01075, 
telephone (413) 538-3394, email [email protected], by March 21, 
2016. After that date, if no additional claimants have come forward, 
transfer of control of the sacred object and object of cultural 
patrimony to the Hopi Tribe of Arizona may proceed.
    The Mount Holyoke College Art Museum is responsible for notifying 
the Hopi Tribe of Arizona that this notice has been published.

    Dated: February 3, 2016.
David Tarler,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2016-03411 Filed 2-17-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-50-P