[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 20 (Tuesday, January 30, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4259-4260]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-01714]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0024474: PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Grand Rapids 
Public Museum, Grand Rapids, MI

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Grand Rapids Public 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 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 Grand Rapids Public 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 Grand Rapids Public Museum 
at the address in this notice by March 1, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Andrea Melvin, Grand Rapids Public Museum, 272 Pearl Street 
NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504, telephone (616) 929-1700, 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 Osage Nation (previously listed as the Osage Tribe) that 
meet the definition of 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

    At an unknown date, six cultural items were removed from an unknown 
location in either southern Missouri or Arkansas. The cultural items 
were acquired by the Grand Rapids Public Museum on September 10, 1974, 
as a bequest from the Ruth Herrick Estate (Collection T-420 (B24)). The 
six objects of cultural patrimony comprise the contents of a ``Medicine 
Man's Bundle'' and include 1 lot of human and animal teeth, 1 lot of 
unworked river stones, 1 lot of shell fragments, 1 weathered antler, 1 
partial projectile point, and 1 lead bullet.
    The objects are not typically associated with burials, but are 
consistent with material excavated from village locations. Museum 
records indicate the ``Medicine Man's Bundle'' was originally bought 
from a dealer with the understanding they were from an archeological 
excavation conducted prior to 1965. A determination of Osage cultural 
affiliation is based on museum records, consultation, geographic 
location, and archeological information. Based on consultation, the 
contents of Osage bundles were and are of ongoing cultural importance 
to the Osage Nation, cannot be alienated by any single individual, and 
require protection and extremely limited exposure.

Determinations Made by the Grand Rapids Public Museum

    Officials of the Grand Rapids Public Museum have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(D), the six 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 objects 
of cultural patrimony and The Osage Nation (previously listed as the 
Osage Tribe).

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 Andrea Melvin, Grand Rapids Public Museum, 
272 Pearl Street NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504, telephone (616) 929-1700, 
email [email protected], by March 1, 2018. After that date, if no 
additional claimants have come forward, transfer of control of the 
objects of cultural patrimony to The Osage Nation (previously listed as 
the Osage Tribe) may proceed.
    The Grand Rapids Public Museum is responsible for notifying The 
Osage Nation (previously listed as the Osage Tribe) that this notice 
has been published.


[[Page 4260]]


    Dated: October 13, 2017.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.

    Editorial Note: This document was received for publication by 
the Office of the Federal Register on January 25, 2018.

[FR Doc. 2018-01714 Filed 1-29-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P