[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 234 (Friday, December 4, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78358-78359]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-26762]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0031199; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Cleveland Museum 
of Natural History, Cleveland, OH

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Cleveland Museum of Natural History (CMNH), in 
consultation with the appropriate Native Hawaiian organizations, has 
determined that the cultural items listed in this notice meet the 
definitions of unassociated funerary objects and sacred objects and has 
determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the objects and 
a present-day Native Hawaiian organization. Lineal descendants or 
representatives of any Native Hawaiian organization not identified in 
this notice that wish to claim these cultural items should submit a 
written request to the CMNH. If no additional claimants come forward, 
transfer of control of the cultural items to the Native Hawaiian 
organization stated in this notice may proceed.

DATES: Lineal descendants or representatives of any Native Hawaiian 
organization not identified in this notice that wish to submit a claim 
for these cultural items should submit a written request with 
information in support of the claim to the CMNH at the address in this 
notice by January 4, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Brian Redmond, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, 1

[[Page 78359]]

Wade Oval Drive, Cleveland, OH 44106, telephone (216) 231-4600 Ext. 
3301, email [email protected] or Amanda McGee, telephone (216) 231-4600 
Ext. 3275, 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 Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Cleveland, OH, that 
meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects and 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.

Consultation

    A detailed assessment of the cultural items was made by CMNH staff 
in consultation with representatives of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs 
(OHA).

History and Description of the Cultural Items

    In 1935, six Hawaiian burial tapa cloths were removed from ancient 
Native Hawaiian corpses in burial caves on Hawai[revaps]i Island by 
Glenn W. Russ of the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum (BPBM). The exact 
location of the burial caves is unknown. At some time soon after the 
collection of the burial cloths, Russ transferred them to D' Alte 
Welch, who also worked at BPBM. In 1976, Welch, who became a professor 
at John Carroll University in Ohio, donated the burial tapas to CMNH. 
The accession numbers for these six items are #1976-03: CMNH #s 8460, 
8464, 8470, 8476, 8480, 8482. Welch also donated to CMNH one 22-page 
scrapbook (CMNH #8458) containing burial tapa fragments.
    In the early 20th century, one cultural item, a ``Hawaiian 
necklace'' (lei niho palaoa) made of human hair, was acquired by Mrs. 
H.F. Lyman. It is unknown from where in Hawaii the lei niho palaoa had 
been removed or the circumstances of its removal. In 1922, Mrs. Lyman 
donated the lei niho palaoa to CMNH (accession #7, CMNH# 1682). CMNH 
has determined that the lei niho palaoa is authentic and is used in 
traditional Native Hawaiian religious ceremonies.

Determinations Made by the Cleveland Museum of Natural History

    The Cleveland Museum of Natural History have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(B), the one 22-page 
scrapbook of burial tapa fragments and the six burial tapa cloths 
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 Native 
Hawaiian individuals.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), the one lei niho palaoa 
described above is a specific ceremonial object needed by traditional 
Native Hawaiian religious leaders for the practice of traditional 
Native Hawaiian 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 
cultural objects and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Lineal descendants or representatives of any Native Hawaiian 
organization not identified in this notice that wish to submit a claim 
for these cultural items should submit a written request with 
information in support of the claim to Dr. Brian Redmond, Cleveland 
Museum of Natural History, 1 Wade Oval Drive, Cleveland, OH 44106, 
telephone (216) 231-4600 Ext. 3301, email [email protected] or Amanda 
McGee, telephone (216) 231-4600 Ext. 3275, email [email protected], by 
January 4, 2021. After that date, if no additional claimants have come 
forward, transfer of control of the unassociated funerary objects and 
the sacred object to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs listed in this 
notice may proceed.
    The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is responsible for 
notifying the Office of Hawaiian Affairs that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: November 24, 2020.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2020-26762 Filed 12-3-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P