[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 167 (Wednesday, August 30, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41285-41286]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-18345]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0024011; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Science Museum of 
Minnesota, St. Paul, MN

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Science Museum of Minnesota, 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 and objects of cultural patrimony. 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 Science Museum of 
Minnesota. 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 Science Museum of Minnesota 
at the address in this notice by September 29, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Edward Fleming, Science Museum of Minnesota, 120 West 
Kellogg Boulevard, St. Paul, MN 55102, telephone (651) 221-4576, 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 Science Museum of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, that meet the 
definition of sacred objects and 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

    In July of 1958, two cultural items were removed from the Nett Lake 
region in Koochiching and St. Louis Counties, MN. Karen Peterson, a 
Science Museum of Minnesota affiliate, purchased the items on the 
Museum's behalf. One item, a drum, was purchased from Mrs. Ray Drift. 
The other item, a drumstick, was purchased from Mr. Walter Drift. Both 
sellers were members of the Bois Forte Band (Nett Lake), one of six 
reservations that, together, comprise the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, 
Minnesota. The two items go together. The two sacred objects/objects of 
cultural patrimony are one drum and one drumstick.
    Museum accession, catalogue, collector notes and purchase records, 
as well as consultation with representatives of the Bois Forte Band 
(Nett Lake) of the Minnesota Chippewa

[[Page 41286]]

Tribe, Minnesota, indicate that the two cultural objects are Ojibwe, 
are from the Nett Lake Reservation, MN, and are sacred objects and 
objects of cultural patrimony. On April 18, 2017, Science Museum of 
Minnesota officials met with members of the Bois Forte Band. Elders, 
spiritual advisors, and five drum-keepers from the Bois Forte Band were 
present at the meeting, and each in turn explained the spiritual and 
sacred importance of drums both to the Ojibwe in general, and to the 
Bois Forte Band in particular. According to the group, drums are 
treated as living beings, and are cared for by a drum-keeper as long as 
that drum-keeper is able. If a drum-keeper can no longer care for a 
drum, it is passed on to another drum-keeper. Supernatural beings 
bestow the honor and duty of caring for a drum through dreams and 
visions. Ceremonial songs and dances associated with drums are 
similarly revealed. According to the informants' testimonies, the 
investiture and traditional religious practices of drum-keepers, and 
the drums used in such practices are central to Ojibwe religion and the 
Bois Forte Band. Drums made by this community belong to the community, 
and are not the property of drum-keepers or any other custodian. 
According to the elders, spiritual advisors, and drum-keepers present 
during consultation, the drum and drumstick should never have been 
sold, and should be returned.

Determinations Made by the Science Museum of Minnesota

    Officials of the Science Museum of Minnesota have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), the two 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(3)(D), the two cultural items 
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.
     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 objects of cultural patrimony and the Bois Forte Band (Nett 
Lake) 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 Edward Fleming, Science Museum of Minnesota, 
120 West Kellogg Boulevard, St. Paul, MN 55102, telephone (651) 221-
4576, email [email protected], by September 29, 2017. After that date, 
if no additional claimants have come forward, transfer of control of 
the sacred objects and objects of cultural patrimony to the Bois Forte 
Band (Nett Lake) of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota, may 
proceed.
    The Science Museum of Minnesota is responsible for notifying the 
Bois Forte Band (Nett Lake) of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota, 
that this notice has been published.

    Dated: August 15, 2017.
Sarah Glass,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2017-18345 Filed 8-29-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P