[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 47 (Monday, March 13, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13490-13491]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-04855]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-23004; 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

[[Page 13491]]

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 12, 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

    Between 1959 and 1968, Mary and Francis Crane purchased six 
cultural items from multiple collectors. The six sacred objects are 
four False Face masks (AC.4167, AC.4392, AC.9720, and AC.9743) and two 
corn husk masks (AC.8552 and AC.10791). Two False Face masks (AC.4167 
and AC.4392) may have been part of a group stolen in 1959 from Onondaga 
keepers, Andrew Pierce, or his son, Stanley Pierce. Andrew Pierce was 
known to have sold False Face masks, though the sale, trade, 
collection, and display of False Face masks and corn husk masks has 
long been a controversial practice. Erich Kohlberg of Kohlberg's 
Antiques and Indian Arts obtained AC.4167 from Andrew Pierce on an 
unknown date, it is unclear whether the mask was purchased or not. The 
mask was then sold to Mary and Francis Crane on June 10, 1959, and the 
Cranes donated it to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science (DMNS; then 
called the Denver Museum of Natural History) in November 1972. Willis 
G. Tilton of Tilton Relics obtained AC.4392 from Andrew Pierce on an 
unknown date, it is unclear whether the mask was purchased or not. The 
mask was then sold to the Cranes on August 22, 1959, the Cranes then 
donated it to the DMNS on May 27, 1983. The False Face masks (AC.9720 
and AC.9743) were purchased by the Cranes on December 15, 1965, from 
Gerald Fenstermaker, and were donated to the DMNS on May 27, 1983. The 
corn husk mask (AC.8552) was purchased from Fenstermaker by the Cranes 
on August 14, 1965, and was donated to the DMNS on May 27, 1983. The 
corn husk mask (AC.10791) was originally owned by Josephine Hill, a 
member of the Onondaga Nation born in 1896. Fenstermaker obtained the 
mask from her and sold it to Mary and Francis Crane on April 5, 1968. 
The Cranes then donated it to DMNS on May 27, 1983.
    Museum accession, catalogue, and documentary records, as well as 
consultation with representatives of the Onondaga Nation, New York, 
indicate that the six cultural items are Haudenosaunee, and are from 
the Onondaga Reservation, New York. The six cultural items relate to 
the False Face Society and the Corn Husk Mask Society. The False Face 
masks and the spirits they represent are called Hodo'wi by the 
Onondaga. These masks are used ceremonially by the False Face Society, 
a medicine society of the Haudenosaunee. The corn husk masks are 
associated with the Corn Husk Mask Society and are used in its 
ceremonies.

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 sacred 
objects and the Onondaga Nation.

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, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado 
Boulevard, Denver, CO 80205, telephone (303) 370-6378, email 
[email protected], by April 12, 2017. After that date, if no 
additional claimants have come forward, transfer of control of the 
sacred objects to Onondaga Nation may proceed.
    The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is responsible for notifying 
the Onondaga Nation that this notice has been published.

    Dated: February 27, 2017.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2017-04855 Filed 3-10-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P