[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 13 (Friday, January 22, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6668-6669]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-01337]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0031351; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Los Angeles County 
Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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[[Page 6669]]

SUMMARY: The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), in consultation 
with Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations listed in this 
notice, has determined that the cultural item listed in this notice 
meets the definition of sacred object and object 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 Los Angeles 
County Museum of Art. 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 Los Angeles County Museum of 
Art at the address in this notice by February 22, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Jeffrey N. Blair, General Counsel and Assistant Secretary, 
Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, 
CA 90036, telephone (323) 857-6048, 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 a cultural item under the 
control of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA, that 
meets the definition of sacred object and object 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 item. The National Park Service is not responsible 
for the determinations in this notice.

History and Description of the Cultural Item

    At an unknown date, one cultural item, a heraldic house screen, 
identified as Tlingit in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art's 
records, was removed from the Tlingit Thunderbird Clan House. This item 
was loaned to the Alaska State Museum by a Thunderbird House 
representative, where it was displayed between 1971-1987. Upon the 
lender's passing, his spouse consigned the screen to auction at 
Sotheby's New York in 1991, whereupon it was separated from the Central 
Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes. In 1995, the item was 
sold at a Sotheby's auction to a private collector. In April 2017, 
funds were given to LACMA to purchase this cultural item from a private 
collector. The item was accessioned by LACMA on August 8, 2017.
    Based on consultation with the Central Council of the Tlingit & 
Haida Indian Tribes, and archival research at the University of 
Washington and the Alaska State Museum, the Los Angeles County Museum 
of Art has determined that this house screen is an integral part of 
rituals and ceremonies performed by Tlingit traditional religious 
leaders of the Thunderbird Clan. The cultural item was identified by 
the auction house, academic experts in the study of Tlingit culture, 
and traditional Tlingit cultural leaders as belonging to the Central 
Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes.

Determinations Made by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art

    The Los Angeles County Museum of Art has determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), the one cultural item 
described above is a specific ceremonial object 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 the sacred 
object and object of cultural patrimony and the Central Council of the 
Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes.

Additional Requesters 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 Jeffrey N. Blair, General Counsel and Assistant 
Secretary, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Boulevard, 
Los Angeles, CA 90036, telephone (323) 857-6048, email 
[email protected], by February 22, 2021. After that date, if no 
additional claimants have come forward, transfer of control of the 
sacred object and object of cultural patrimony to the Central Council 
of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes may proceed.
    The Los Angeles County Museum of Art is responsible for notifying 
the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes that this 
notice has been published.

    Dated: January 6, 2021.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2021-01337 Filed 1-21-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P