[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 170 (Tuesday, September 3, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 46043]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-18866]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0028650; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: The Field Museum, 
Chicago, IL

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Field 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 Field 
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 Field Museum at the address 
in this notice by October 3, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Helen Robbins, The Field Museum of Natural History, 1400 
Lakeshore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605, telephone (312) 665-7317, 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 Field Museum, Chicago, IL, 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, three cultural items identified as Salish in 
the Field Museum's records were removed from an unknown location and 
sold to H. Stadhagen, a purveyor of indigenous material culture. In 
December of 1902, Charles Newcombe purchased the three items from H. 
Stadhagen's Indian Curio store in Victoria, B.C. for the Field Museum 
of Natural History. The items were accessioned into the Museum on 
October 6, 1905. These three items are masks.
    Based on consultation with the Samish Indian Nation, the Field 
Museum has determined that these masks are an integral part of rituals 
and ceremonies performed by Coast Salish traditional religious leaders. 
The items were identified as belonging to the Coast Salish by the 
original collectors, academic experts in the study of Coast Salish 
culture, and traditional Coast Salish religious leaders.

Determinations Made by the Field Museum of Natural History

    Officials of the Field Museum of Natural History have determined 
that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), the three 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 Samish Indian Nation (previously listed as the Samish 
Indian Tribe, Washington).

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 Helen Robbins, The Field Museum, 1400 
Lakeshore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605, telephone (312) 665-7317, email 
[email protected], by October 3, 2019. After that date, if no 
additional claimants have come forward, transfer of control of the 
sacred objects to the Samish Indian Nation (previously listed as the 
Samish Indian Tribe, Washington) may proceed.
    The Field Museum of Natural History is responsible for notifying 
the Samish Indian Nation (previously listed as the Samish Indian Tribe, 
Washington) that this notice has been published.

    Dated: August 6, 2019.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2019-18866 Filed 8-30-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P