[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 7, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12828-12829]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-04403]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-22870; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Denver Museum of 
Nature & Science, Denver, CO

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 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 Denver Museum of Nature & Science. 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 Denver Museum of Nature & 
Science at the address in this notice by April 6, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Chip Colwell, Senior Curator of Anthropology and NAGPRA 
Officer, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Boulevard, 
Denver, CO 80205, telephone (303) 370-6378, 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 Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Denver, CO 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 Items

    At an unknown date, six cultural items were removed from multiple 
unknown locations. In the 1950s, Karen Petersen and her husband Sydney 
Petersen spent their summers visiting Anishinaabe communities, camping 
out, and buying crafts from tribal members. When she was able to sell 
items, she sold them through churches in St. Paul, MN. She also 
collected Anishinaabe objects for the Science Museum of Minnesota as a 
staff member from 1958 to 1964. The six cultural items were purchased 
by Petersen in 1975 from unknown collectors who obtained or purchased 
them from tribal members at the White Earth Indian Reservation in 
northwestern Minnesota. The baton (AC.11531) was obtained by an unknown 
collector from Annie Fineday of the White Earth Indian Reservation in 
1941, and, in turn, was obtained by Petersen in 1975. It was purchased 
by Francis and Mary Crane on February 5, 1976. The Cranes donated the 
baton to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science (DMNS) in December of 
1976. The bird carving (AC.11532) was purchased by an unknown collector 
from Mrs. John Basswood in Ponsford, which is part of the White Earth 
Indian Reservation, in 1949. It was obtained by Petersen in 1975 and 
was purchased by the Cranes on February 5, 1976. The Cranes donated the 
bird carving to the DMNS in December of 1976. The rattle (AC.11534) was 
sold to an unknown collector by Jack Saylor at the White Earth Indian 
Reservation, and, in turn, was purchased by Petersen in 1975, and by 
the Cranes on February 5, 1976. The Cranes donated the rattle to the 
DMNS in December of 1976. The medicine bag (AC.11535H) was obtained 
from Mrs. Moose Jonas from an unknown collector in the 1930s, and, in 
turn, was obtained by Petersen in 1975. It was purchased by the Cranes 
on February 5, 1976. The Cranes donated the medicine bag to the DMNS in 
December of 1976. The second bird figure (AC.11540) was obtained from 
Annie Fineday by an unknown collector in 1941, and, in turn, was 
obtained by Petersen in 1975. It was purchased by the Cranes on 
February 5, 1976. The Cranes donated the bird figure to the DMNS in 
December of 1976. The Midewiwin Post (AC.11543) was purchased from Mrs. 
John Basswood in Ponsford in 1949, and, in turn, was obtained by 
Petersen in 1975. It was purchased by the Cranes on February 5, 1976. 
The Cranes then donated the Midewiwin Post to the DMNS in December of 
1976. The six cultural items are one Midewiwin baton (AC.11531), two 
Midewiwin bird figures (AC.11532 and AC.11540), one Midewiwin rattle 
(AC.11534), one Midewiwin medicine bag (AC.11534H), and one Midewiwin 
post (AC.11534). The cultural items are identified in museum records as 
being from the White Earth Indian Reservation in northwestern 
Minnesota. Bird figures and their posts are used to mark Mide lodges 
and to signify a family or society affiliation. Similarly, rattles, 
medicine bags, and batons have an integral role in Midewiwin's current 
ceremonial practices.
    Museum accession, catalogue, and documentary records, as well as 
consultation with representatives of the White Earth Band of the 
Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota, indicate that the six cultural 
items are Ojibwe and are from the White Earth Indian Reservation, 
Minnesota. The six cultural items, AC.11531, AC.11532, AC.11534, 
AC.11535H, AC.11540, and AC.11543, relate to the Grand Medicine Society 
or Midewiwin, a ritual society.

Determinations Made by the Denver Museum of Nature & Science

    Officials of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science have determined 
that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), the six 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 
cultural items and the White Earth Band 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 Chip Colwell, Senior Curator of Anthropology 
and NAGPRA Officer,

[[Page 12829]]

Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Boulevard, Denver, CO 
80205, telephone (303) 370-6378, email [email protected] by April 
6, 2017. After that date, if no additional claimants have come forward, 
transfer of control of the sacred objects to the White Earth Band of 
the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota may proceed.
    The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is responsible for notifying 
the White Earth Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota that 
this notice has been published.

    Dated: February 6, 2017.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2017-04403 Filed 3-6-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P