[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 215 (Wednesday, November 8, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51862-51863]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-24232]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0024164; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Museum of Texas 
Tech University, Lubbock, TX

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Museum of Texas Tech University, 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 Museum of Texas Tech University. 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 Museum of Texas Tech 
University at the address in this notice by December 8, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Eileen Johnson, Museum of Texas Tech University, 3301 
4th Street, Box 43191, Lubbock, TX 79409-3191, telephone (806) 742-
2442, 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 Museum of Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, 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, 39 cultural items were removed from multiple 
unknown locations. Of these, 38 of the cultural items were purchased by 
Dr. Lou Dunn Diekemper from the Morning Star Gallery in Santa Fe, NM, 
between 1985 and 1987. The history of these cultural items prior to 
being acquired by the Morning Star Gallery is unknown. Dr. Lou Dunn 
Diekemper donated these items to the Museum of Texas Tech University in 
2006. The remaining item was purchased by Evelyn Davies in 2004 from 
the Adobe Gallery in Santa Fe, NM. The history of this object prior to 
being acquired by the Adobe Gallery is unknown. Evelyn Davies donated 
this item to the Museum of Texas Tech University in 2016. The 39 sacred 
items are 4 pahoes, 1 bandolier bag, and 3 jish and their contents that 
make up the remaining 31 items.
    Representatives of the Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico & Utah 
examined records for these items, and consider them all to be sacred 
objects and objects of cultural patrimony belonging to the Navajo 
people. These representatives confirmed that Navajo jish are still in 
ceremonial use by the Navajo today, and can be possessed only by 
someone with proper ceremonial knowledge. Information from the Morning 
Star Gallery associated with the cultural items states that they are 
Navajo items intended for ceremonial use, and this information is 
consistent with related accession, catalog, and documentary information 
maintained by the Museum of Texas Tech University.

Determinations Made by the Museum of Texas Tech University

    Officials of the Museum of Texas Tech University have determined 
that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), the 39 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 Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico & Utah.

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 Dr. Eileen Johnson, Museum of Texas

[[Page 51863]]

Tech University, 3301 4th Street, Box 43191, Lubbock, TX 79409-3191, 
telephone (806) 742-2442, 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 Navajo Nation, Arizona, 
New Mexico & Utah may proceed.
    The Museum of Texas Tech University is responsible for notifying 
the Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico & Utah that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: September 15, 2017.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2017-24232 Filed 11-7-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P