[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 76 (Thursday, April 22, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21341-21342]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-08401]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0031764; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Gilcrease Museum, 
Tulsa, OK

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Gilcrease Museum, in consultation with the appropriate 
Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, has determined that the 
cultural items listed in this notice meet the definitions 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 these cultural items 
should submit a written request to the Gilcrease 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 Gilcrease Museum at the 
address in this notice by May 24, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Laura Bryant, Gilcrease Museum, 1400 N Gilcrease Museum

[[Page 21342]]

Road, Tulsa, OK 74127, telephone (918) 596-2747, 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 Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa, OK, that meet the definitions 
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 Items

    In the early 1900s, 11 cultural items were removed from the 
Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska community. Emil Lenders, a German-American 
artist, traveled throughout the mid- and western United States in the 
early 1900s and collected many items from Indigenous communities and 
from Wild West shows. The Thomas Gilcrease Foundation purchased Emil 
Lenders' collection of approximately 600 items in 1950, and it was 
transferred to the City of Tulsa in 1955. The 11 sacred objects and 
objects of cultural patrimony are 10 decorated otter bags (accession 
numbers 84.694, 84.701, 84.702, 84.703, 84.704, 84.705, 84.706, 84.707, 
84.709, 85.55) and one war bundle (accession numbers 84.1752a-m, 
73.244, 82.44).
    Likely around the turn of the century, two cultural items were 
removed from the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska community. An unknown 
person acquired these items, which were likely purchased by the Thomas 
Gilcrease Foundation in the mid-20th century. The items were 
transferred to the City of Tulsa in 1955. The two sacred objects and 
objects of cultural patrimony are decorated otter bags (accession 
numbers 84.695 and 84.708).
    All of these cultural items were determined to be culturally 
affiliated with the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska during consultation 
with the Tribe. The documentation and records at the museum identify 
these items as Winnebago. These items are still used in current 
traditional ceremonies and are communally owned and cannot be legally 
separated from the originating community by an individual.

Determinations Made by the Gilcrease Museum

    Officials of the Gilcrease Museum have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), the 13 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(3)(D), the 13 cultural 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 sacred 
objects, and objects of cultural patrimony and the Winnebago Tribe of 
Nebraska.

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 Laura Bryant, Gilcrease Museum, 1400 N 
Gilcrease Museum Road, Tulsa, OK 74127, telephone (918) 596-2747, email 
[email protected], by May 24, 2021. After that date, if no 
additional claimants have come forward, transfer of control of the 
sacred objects and objects of cultural patrimony to the Winnebago Tribe 
of Nebraska may proceed.
    The Gilcrease Museum is responsible for notifying the Winnebago 
Tribe of Nebraska that this notice has been published.

    Dated: April 15, 2021.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2021-08401 Filed 4-21-21; 8:45 am]
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