[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 217 (Wednesday, November 9, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78846-78847]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-26977]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-22251; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Albion College, 
Albion, MI

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Albion College, 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 Albion 
College. 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 Albion College at the address in 
this notice by December 9, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Bille Wickre, Department of Art and Art History, Albion 
College, 611 East Porter Street, Albion, MI 49224, telephone (517) 629-
0246, 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 Albion College, Albion, MI, 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 
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

    At an unknown date before 1973, one sacred object was removed from 
Zuni lands, most likely from a location in New Mexico. The sacred 
object is a cottonwood cylinder, 71 cm. long and 23.7 cm. in diameter. 
It is rounded at both ends and carved to resemble a human figure with a 
face, ears, hair and cap or helmet at one end and hands at the other 
end. There is a hole in the front center at a place where some scholars 
suggest is an umbilicus. The wood is significantly weathered and shows 
signs of aging. Based upon the form and condition, the object has been 
determined to be a Zuni Ahayu:da or war god.
    In 1973, the sacred object (Ahayu:da) was donated by an individual 
to Albion College. There is no further information regarding its origin 
or date. After the donor's death in 1990, Bille Wickre contacted the 
donor's children and

[[Page 78847]]

grandchildren in an effort to find out more about the Ahayu:da, but no 
one remembered anything about it. Once the Ahayu:da was discovered in 
the collection, Bille Wickre and students of Albion College undertook a 
research project to authenticate the object. Written and visual 
evidence suggested the object is an Ahayu:da. Wickre telephoned the 
Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico, to initiate 
consultation. She spoke with Kurt Dongoske, RPA, Principal Investigator 
and Tribal Historic Preservation Officer. Zuni bow priests and tribal 
elders confirmed the authenticity of the object.

Determinations Made by Albion College

    Officials of Albion College have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), one cultural item 
described above is a specific ceremonial object 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 
object and the Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, 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 Bille Wickre, Department of Art and Art 
History, Albion College, 611 East Porter Street, Albion, MI 49224, 
telephone (517) 629-0246, email [email protected], by December 9, 
2016. After that date, if no additional claimants have come forward, 
transfer of control of the sacred object to the Zuni Tribe of the Zuni 
Reservation, New Mexico, may proceed.
    Albion College is responsible for notifying the Zuni Tribe of the 
Zuni Reservation, New Mexico, that this notice has been published.

    Dated: October 24, 2016.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2016-26977 Filed 11-8-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P