[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 215 (Wednesday, November 8, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51868-51869]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-24229]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0024163; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: New York State 
Museum, Albany, NY

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The New York State Museum, 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 New York State Museum. 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 New York State Museum at the 
address in this notice by December 8, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Lisa Anderson, New York State Museum, 3049 Cultural 
Education Center, Albany, NY 12230, telephone (518) 486-2020, 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 New York State Museum, Albany, NY, 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

    In 1898, the New York State Museum (hereafter ``Museum'') acquired 
three wooden medicine masks from Harriet Maxwell Converse of New York 
City, NY. Two of the cultural items were obtained on the Cattaraugus 
Reservation (E-37059, E-37623), and one was acquired at Salamanca, NY 
(E-37048).
    In 1905, Arthur C. Parker, Museum ethnologist and archeologist, 
acquired two wooden medicine masks from the Cattaraugus Reservation for 
the Museum. Parker reported one of the masks, made of wood and rabbit 
skin, was used to expel the causes of venereal disease (E-36897). The 
other reportedly represented Ganuska, the Stone Giant, and was 
purchased from Nancy Cook through Mrs. A. C. Parker (E-36928).
    In 1908, Arthur C. Parker obtained four wooden medicine masks for 
the Museum from Delos Kettle of Lawton, NY. Parker attributed three of 
the medicine masks to the I'dos Society (E-36864, E-36865, E-36866). A 
fourth medicine mask was unattributed (E-37022).
    In June of 1909, Arthur C. Parker commissioned one partially carved 
medicine mask for the Museum to be made on the Cattaraugus Reservation 
(E-36917). The face was carved on the trunk of a basswood tree by a man 
named either Jonas or Green, with Delos Kettle in attendance.
    In 1910, Arthur C. Parker acquired two cornhusk medicine masks on 
the Cattaraugus Reservation in New York for the Museum (E-36922A, E-
36922B).
    In 1933, Willard A. Gibson of Salamanca, NY, donated one cultural 
item to the Museum. The item is a cornhusk medicine mask that was given 
to him by Louis Plummer at Allegany, NY (E-37965).
    In 1956, the Museum purchased two cultural items from the Logan 
Museum of Anthropology at Beloit College, WI. The cultural items were 
part of a larger collection made by Albert Green Heath. One of the 
cultural items is a wooden medicine mask that Heath purchased from 
Wilson Stevens on the Cattaraugus Reservation (E-50315). The other is a 
miniature cornhusk medicine mask that he obtained from Delos Big Kettle 
at Lawtons, NY, in 1912 (E-50312).
    Traditional religious leaders of the Seneca Nation of Indians 
(previously listed as the Seneca Nation of New York) have identified 
these 15 medicine faces as being needed for the practice of traditional 
Native American religions by present-day adherents. Museum 
documentation, supported by oral evidence presented during consultation

[[Page 51869]]

with members of the Haudenosaunee Standing Committee on Burial Rules 
and Regulations, indicates that these medicine faces are culturally 
affiliated with the Seneca Nation of Indians (previously listed as the 
Seneca Nation of New York).

Determinations Made by the New York State Museum

    Officials of the New York State Museum have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), the 15 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 Seneca Nation of Indians (previously listed as the 
Seneca Nation of New York).

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 Lisa Anderson, New York State Museum, 3049 
Cultural Education Center, Albany, NY 12230 telephone (518) 486-2020, 
email [email protected], by December 8, 2017. After that date, if 
no additional claimants have come forward, transfer of control of the 
sacred objects to the Seneca Nation of Indians (previously listed as 
the Seneca Nation of New York) may proceed.
    The New York State Museum is responsible for notifying the Cayuga 
Nation; Oneida Nation (previously listed as the Oneida Tribe of Indians 
of Wisconsin); Oneida Nation of New York; Onondaga Nation; Saint Regis 
Mohawk Tribe (previously listed as the St. Regis Band of Mohawk Indians 
of New York); Seneca Nation of Indians (previously listed as the Seneca 
Nation of New York); Seneca-Cayuga Nation (previously listed as the 
Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma); Tonawanda Band of Seneca (previously 
listed as the Tonawanda Band of Seneca Indians of New York); and the 
Tuscarora Nation that this notice has been published.

    Dated: September 15, 2017.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2017-24229 Filed 11-7-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P