[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 147 (Thursday, July 30, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45919-45920]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-16499]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0030484; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Harry Ransom 
Center, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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[[Page 45920]]

SUMMARY: The Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at Austin, 
in consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian 
organizations, has determined that the cultural item listed in this 
notice meets the definition of sacred objects and 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 this cultural item should submit a written request to the Harry 
Ransom Center at the University of Texas at Austin. If no additional 
claimants come forward, transfer of control of the cultural item 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 this cultural item should submit a written request with 
information in support of the claim to the Harry Ransom Center at the 
University of Texas at Austin at the address in this notice by August 
31, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Ester Harrison, Art Registrar for Loans & Exhibitions, Harry 
Ransom Center, University of Texas at Austin, P.O. Box 7219, Austin, TX 
78713-7219, telephone (512) 471-9127, 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 one cultural item under the 
control of the Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas at Austin, 
Austin, TX, that meets the definition of sacred objects and 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 Item

    In 1970, one drum (catalog number 1080) was donated to the 
University of Texas at Austin as part of the estate of Erle Stanley 
Gardner of Temecula CA, and subsequently transferred to the Harry 
Ransom Center collections. It is not known when or how Erle Stanley 
Gardner originally collected the drum. This sacred object and object of 
cultural patrimony is a wooden drum with rawhide ends and lacing, and 
painted in ochre, dark brown, and white colors.
    Based on initial research by the Harry Ransom Center, the drum was 
believed to be of Southwest Native American origin. Further research 
and consultation with representatives from the Pueblo of Cochiti, New 
Mexico, found that Cochiti is known by all Pueblos for creating 
ceremonial drums of this style for tribal use in the practice of 
traditional native religion. Accordingly, this drum in the Erle Stanley 
Gardner Collection clearly is a sacred object originating from Cochiti 
Pueblo.

Determinations Made by the Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas at 
Austin

    Officials of the Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas at Austin 
have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), the one cultural item 
described above is of 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(3)(D), the one cultural item 
described above has 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 drum and 
the Pueblo of Cochiti, New Mexico.

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 
this cultural item should submit a written request with information in 
support of the claim to Ester Harrison, Art Registrar for Loans & 
Exhibitions, Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas at Austin, P.O. 
Box 7219, Austin, TX 78713-7219, telephone (512) 471-9127, email 
[email protected], by August 31, 2020. After that date, 
if no additional claimants have come forward, transfer of control of 
the sacred object and object of cultural patrimony to the Pueblo of 
Cochiti, New Mexico may proceed.
    The Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas at Austin is 
responsible for notifying the Mescalero Apache Tribe of the Mescalero 
Reservation, New Mexico; Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico & Utah; 
Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico (previously listed as Pueblo of San Juan); 
Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; Pueblo of Isleta, New Mexico; Pueblo of 
Jemez, New Mexico; Pueblo of Nambe, New Mexico; Pueblo of Picuris, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Pojoaque, New Mexico; Pueblo of San Felipe, New 
Mexico; Pueblo of Sandia, New Mexico; Pueblo of Santa Ana, New Mexico; 
Pueblo of Santa Clara, New Mexico; Pueblo of Zia, New Mexico; San 
Carlos Apache Tribe of the San Carlos Reservation, Arizona; and the 
Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico that this notice has 
been published.

    Dated: June 18, 2020.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2020-16499 Filed 7-29-20; 8:45 am]
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