[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 186 (Thursday, September 24, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60265-60266]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-21082]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0030811; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Eastern Washington 
State Historical Society/Northwest Museum of Art & Culture, Spokane, WA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Eastern Washington State Historical Society/Northwest 
Museum of Art & Culture, 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 either 
unassociated funerary objects or 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 Eastern 
Washington State Historical Society/Northwest Museum of Art & Culture. 
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 Eastern Washington State 
Historical Society/Northwest Museum of Art & Culture at the address in 
this notice by October 26, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Wesley Jessup, Eastern Washington State Historical Society/
Northwest Museum of Art & Culture, 2316 West First Avenue, Spokane, WA 
99201, telephone (509) 363-5354, 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 Eastern Washington State Historical Society/Northwest 
Museum of Art & Culture, Spokane, WA, that meet the definition of 
either unassociated funerary objects or 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(s)

    At an unknown time, 16 cultural items were removed from 
undetermined locations in Tlingit/Haida aboriginal territory of 
southeast AK. These objects were collected by various donors and/or 
their antecedents from the mid-19th century to the late 20th century. 
The items were donated to the Museum between 1916 and 1992. Eight of 
the items are unassociated funerary objects. They are one Chilkat 
blanket (NN95.365), three Shaman objects (MONAC.1971.46; MONAC.1971.44; 
703.2), one Armor (HEINE.1978/2), and three Whistles (1070.243; 
1070.247; 1070.248). Eight of the items are objects of cultural 
patrimony. They are one Chilkat blanket (2054.1), one Chilkat apron 
(YOUNG.1982.1), one Porpoise figure (175.49), one Killer whale hat 
(STORIE.1981.7), one Woven hat (ND.4986), one Ceremonial shirt 
(500.88), one Bentwood box (172.22), and one Whale totem 
(MONAC.1971.34).
    In July 2018, six representatives from the Central Council of the 
Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes completed a consultation visit to the 
Eastern Washington State Historical Society/Northwest Museum of Art & 
Culture's American Indian collection. The representatives from the 
Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes provided oral 
history and documentation showing that the items in this notice are 
either unassociated funerary objects or objects of cultural patrimony.

Determinations Made by the Eastern Washington State Historical Society/
Northwest Museum of Art & Culture

    Officials of the Eastern Washington State Historical Society/
Northwest Museum of Art & Culture have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(B), eight of the 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(3)(D), eight of the 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 
unassociated funerary objects and objects of cultural patrimony and 
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 Wesley Jessup, Eastern Washington State 
Historical Society/Northwest Museum of Art & Culture, 2316 West First 
Avenue, Spokane, WA 99201, telephone (509) 363-5354, email 
[email protected],

[[Page 60266]]

by October 26, 2020. After that date, if no additional claimants have 
come forward, transfer of control of the unassociated funerary objects 
and objects of cultural patrimony to the Central Council of the Tlingit 
& Haida Indian Tribes may proceed.
    The Eastern Washington State Historical Society/Northwest Museum of 
Art & Culture is responsible for notifying the Central Council of the 
Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes that this notice has been published.

    Dated: August 24, 2020.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2020-21082 Filed 9-23-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P