[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 228 (Monday, November 28, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 85636-85637]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-28512]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-22336; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Peabody Museum of 
Natural History, Yale University, New Haven, CT

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Peabody Museum of Natural History, 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 unassociated funerary objects, sacred objects, and/or 
objects of cultural patrimony. Lineal descendants or representatives of 
any Indian tribe or

[[Page 85637]]

Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
claim these cultural items should submit a written request to the 
Peabody Museum of Natural History. 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 Peabody Museum of Natural 
History at the address in this notice by December 28, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Professor David Skelly, Director, Yale Peabody Museum of 
Natural History, P.O. Box 208118, New Haven, CT 06520-8118, telephone 
(203) 432-3752.

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 Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University, New 
Haven, CT that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects, 
sacred objects, and/or 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

Unassociated Funerary Objects

    In the late 19th century, six cultural items were collected in 
southwestern Alaska. Three of the cultural items were collected circa 
1896-1899, placed on deposit at the Peabody Museum of Natural History 
in 1928, and formally donated to the Peabody Museum of Natural History 
in 1992. The remaining three cultural items were collected prior to 
1880 when they were donated to the Peabody Museum of Natural History. 
The six cultural items are: One headdress, two bone necklaces, one 
ivory amulet, one bone drinking tube, and one oyster catcher rattle.
    In June 2015, representatives from the Central Council of the 
Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska identified the six cultural 
items as part of a shaman's outfit/paraphernalia (collectively the 
``Six Shaman's Objects'') and historic and contemporary scholars 
support this identification. Historic and contemporary scholars also 
state that Tlingit shamans were traditionally placed in above-ground 
grave houses along with their outfit/paraphernalia.

Sacred Objects and Objects of Cultural Patrimony

    In the late 19th century, one Chilkat robe and one Chilkat Woodworm 
pipe were collected from southwestern Alaska and in 1902 they were 
donated to the Peabody Museum of Natural History. In 1928 or 1929 one 
Raven rattle was collected from southwestern Alaska and was 
subsequently donated to the Peabody Museum of Natural History in 1966. 
In 1931, one Chilkat robe, was purchased in Juneau, Alaska and donated 
to the Peabody Museum of Natural History. During consultation, 
representatives from the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida 
Indian Tribes of Alaska identified the first Chilkat robe as depicting 
the Sea Monster crest, which belongs to the Wooshkeetaan Clan; the 
Chilkat Woodworm pipe as depicting the Woodworm crest, which belongs to 
the Ghaanaxhteid[iacute] Clan; the Raven rattle as being made by Jack 
Gamble (Dl'eet') of the Wooshkeetaan Clan; and the second Chilkat robe 
as depicting the Killerwhale crest which belongs to the Dakhl'aweidi 
Clan (collectively the ``Four Clan Objects'').
    The representatives stated that, according to tribal custom, no 
individual could have legally alienated the Four Clan Objects from 
their respective clans. In addition, the representatives stated that 
members of the Wooshkeetaan, the Ghaanaxhteid[iacute] and the 
Dakhl'aweidi Clans need the Four Clan Objects to practice traditional 
ceremonies today. Evidence presented by the Central Council and 
independent scholars confirm the attribution of the crests to the 
specific clans, support the representative's description of the legal 
significance of the crests as recording the clans' collective title to 
the Four Clan Objects, and corroborate that the Four Clan Objects are 
especially revered and feature prominently in traditional and present 
day ceremonial contexts.

Determinations Made by the Peabody Museum of Natural History

    Officials of the Peabody Museum of Natural History have determined:
     Unassociated Funerary Objects. Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 
3001(3)(B), the Six Shaman Objects described above are reasonably 
believed to have been placed with or near individual human remains at 
the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony and 
are believed, by a preponderance of the evidence, to have been removed 
from a specific burial site of a Native American individual.
     Sacred Objects. Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), the Four 
Clan Objects 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.
     Objects of Cultural Patrimony. Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 
3001(3)(D), the Four Clan Objects 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.
     Shared Group Identity. Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), 
there is a relationship of shared group identity that can be reasonably 
traced between the unassociated funerary objects, sacred objects, and/
or objects of cultural patrimony and the Central Council of the Tlingit 
and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska.

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 Professor David Skelly, Director, Yale 
Peabody Museum of Natural History, P.O. Box 208118, New Haven, CT 
06520-8118, telephone (203) 432-3752, by December 28, 2016. After that 
date, if no additional claimants have come forward, transfer of control 
of the unassociated funerary objects, sacred objects, and/or objects of 
cultural patrimony to the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida 
Indian Tribes of Alaska may proceed.
    The Peabody Museum of Natural History is responsible for notifying 
the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska 
that this notice has been published.

    Dated: November 2, 2016
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2016-28512 Filed 11-25-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P