[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 106 (Monday, June 3, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25558-25559]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-11429]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0027842; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Eiteljorg Museum 
of American Indians and Western Art, Indianapolis, IN

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art 
(Eiteljorg 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 unassociated 
funerary 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 Eiteljorg 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 Eiteljorg Museum at the 
address in this notice by July 3, 2019.

ADDRESSES: John Vanausdall, President/CEO, Eiteljorg Museum of American 
Indians and Western Art, 500 W Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 
46204, telephone (317) 275-1313, 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 Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, 
Indianapolis, IN, that meet the definition of unassociated funerary 
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 the mid-to late nineteenth century, four cultural items were 
removed from undisclosed sites in unknown counties in southeastern 
Alaska. Documentation regarding their removal and/or subsequent 
transfers prior to their accession into the Eiteljorg Museum's 
collection is limited. Preceding the foundation of the Eiteljorg 
Museum, in June 1989, by Harrison Eiteljorg, these four cultural items 
were part of the personal collection of Harrison Eiteljorg. The four 
cultural items are one Oyster Catcher Rattle, one Shaman's staff, one 
Clan or Shaman's Hat, and one Grave Guardian or Shaman Spirit Helper.
    According to museum records, each of these four cultural items are 
identified as Tlingit. The Oyster Catcher Rattle was previously owned 
by John A. Buxton of Shango Galleries, and was purchased by Harrison 
Eiteljorg in November 15, 1979. The rattle, dated circa 1870, is 
constructed from a single piece of wood, bears black, red, and light 
blue pigments. It has been halved and likely hollowed out to hold what 
may be seeds used to create its rattling sound. A leather cord is tied 
at one side of the rattle. The top of the rattle represents a long-
billed bird. Near the handle is a wolf spirit with a protruding tongue. 
The underside is carved to depict what may be a hawk. The Shaman's 
Staff, dated circa 1880, was purchased by Harrison Eiteljorg from Tom 
Julian, in June 1980. It was originally owned by Howard Roloff. It is 
made of carved wood, the top of which is ornamented with a killer whale 
design. The Shaman's Hat, dated circa 1800, in the form of a raven on 
top and a frog on the front, is constructed out of wood, semi-tanned 
hide, iron or copper alloy, fur, sinew, and paint. It was purchased by 
Harrison Eiteljorg from Sotheby's, Parke-Bernet in April 1981. The 
Shaman Spirit Helper, dated circa 1850, was purchased by Harrison 
Eiteljorg from Richard Rasso in June 1987. It is made of cedar, 
pigmented in red and black, and is adorned with human hair. It depicts 
a shaman holding a knife. The top of the knife is carved to resemble a 
facial expression.
    During consultation the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida 
Tribes identified the Oyster Catcher Rattle (Loog[aacute]n Sheishoo), 
Shaman's Staff (t' Woodzakaay[iacute]), Shaman's Hat, and Shaman Spirit 
Helper (y[eacute]ik) as cultural items used only by a shaman 
([iacute]FD;t'). Shaman implements would have been interred with a 
shaman. As it is against Tlingit custom to grant permission to disturb 
or disinter a shaman's grave the Central Council believes that these 
four cultural items could have only been collected by removing them 
from a grave, and therefore, they are unassociated funerary objects. 
Historic and contemporary scholarly research reiterate that 
traditionally, Tlingit shamans were buried with their accoutrements 
such as rattles, staffs, hats, and spirit helpers. As indicated through 
museum records and consultation with the Central Council,

[[Page 25559]]

the cultural affiliation of the four cultural items is Tlingit. 
According to Tlingit oral tradition, the Tlingit people have owned and 
occupied southeastern Alaska since time immemorial.

Determinations Made by the Eiteljorg Museum

    Officials of the Eiteljorg Museum have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(B), the four cultural items 
described above are reasonably believed to have been placed with or 
near individual human remains at the time of death or later as part of 
the death rite or ceremony and are believed, by a preponderance of the 
evidence, to have been removed from a specific burial site of a Native 
American individual.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the 
unassociated funerary objects and the Central Council of the Tlingit & 
Haida Indian Tribes.

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 John Vanausdall, President & CEO, Eiteljorg 
Museum of American Indians and Western Art, 500 W Washington Street, 
Indianapolis, IN 46204, telephone (317) 275-1313, email 
[email protected], by July 3, 2019. After that date, if no 
additional claimants have come forward, transfer of control of the 
unassociated funerary objects to the Central Council of the Tlingit & 
Haida Indian Tribes may proceed.
    The Eiteljorg Museum is responsible for notifying the Angoon 
Community Association; Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian 
Tribes; Chilkat Indian Village (Klukwan); Chilkoot Indian Association 
(Haines); Craig Tribal Association (previously listed as the Craig 
Community Association); Douglas Indian Association; Hoonah Indian 
Association; Hydaburg Cooperative Association; Ketchikan Indian 
Corporation; Klawock Cooperative Association; Native Village of Eyak 
(Cordova); Organized Village of Kake; Organized Village of Saxman; 
Petersburg Indian Association; Sitka Tribe of Alaska; Skagway Village; 
Wrangell Cooperative Association; and the Yakutat Tlingit Tribe that 
this notice has been published.

    Dated: May 2, 2019.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2019-11429 Filed 5-31-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P