[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 76 (Thursday, April 22, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21342-21343]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-08402]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0031763; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Hartwick College, 
Yager Museum of Art & Culture, Oneonta, NY

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Hartwick College, Yager Museum of Art & Culture (hereafter 
Yager Museum), 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 an 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 Yager 
Museum. 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 Yager Museum at the address 
in this notice by May 24, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Quentin Lewis, Yager Museum of Art & Culture, Hartwick 
College, 1 Hartwick Drive, Oneonta, NY 13820, telephone (607) 431-4481, 
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 Hartwick College, Yager Museum of Art & Culture, Oneonta, 
NY, that meets the definition of an 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 items. The National Park Service is not responsible 
for the determinations in this notice.

History and Description of the Cultural Item

    In 1994, Frederick W. Dockstader, former Director of the Museum of 
the American Indian of the Heye Foundation, New York City, gave the 
Yager Museum of Art & Culture at Hartwick College one cultural item 
that he described as a family heirloom of the Quinney Family that had 
been among the belongings of John Wannuaucon Quinney (1797-1855), 
Sachem of the Stockbridge Tribe of Indians (later the Stockbridge 
Munsee Community, Wisconsin). It is unclear how Dockstader acquired the 
object, and it is

[[Page 21343]]

also unclear how and when the object left the possession of the Quinney 
Family. The object of cultural patrimony is one set of three silver 
ring brooches.
    Research by the Yager Museum staff, as well as information provided 
by the Stockbridge-Munsee Community, Wisconsin in consultation with the 
Museum, has demonstrated that this object meets the definition of 
object of cultural patrimony. The brooches were likely badges of 
office, utilized by Quinney in his role as intercultural broker and 
diplomat, acting on behalf of the Stockbridge-Munsee across lines of 
political and cultural difference. Quinney's brooches are a material 
signifier of Stockbridge-Munsee sovereignty and their struggle to 
maintain such sovereignty in the face of attempts at dissolution.

Determinations Made by the Hartwick College, Yager Museum of Art & 
Culture

    Officials of the Hartwick College, Yager Museum of Art & Culture 
have determined that:
     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 object 
of cultural patrimony and the Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin.

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 Dr. Quentin Lewis, Yager Museum of Art & 
Culture, Hartwick College, 1 Hartwick Drive, Oneonta, NY 13820, 
telephone (607) 431-4481, email [email protected], by May 24, 2021. 
After that date, if no additional claimants have come forward, transfer 
of control of the object of cultural patrimony to the Stockbridge 
Munsee Community, Wisconsin may proceed.
    Hartwick College, Yager Museum of Art & Culture is responsible for 
notifying the Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin that this notice 
has been published.

    Dated: April 8, 2021.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2021-08402 Filed 4-21-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P