[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 162 (Wednesday, August 25, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47519-47521]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18270]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0032453; 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 definition of sacred 
objects and

[[Page 47520]]

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 September 24, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Bryant, Gilcrease Museum, 1400 N 
Gilcrease Museum 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 definition 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 late 19th or early 20th century, 18 cultural items were 
removed from Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe communities. Thomas Gilcrease 
likely acquired these items as part of a larger collection in the mid-
1900s, though the exact details are unknown. Thomas Gilcrease 
transferred his collection to the City of Tulsa in 1955. The one object 
of cultural patrimony is a birch bark basket (accession number 71.454). 
The 17 sacred objects and objects of cultural patrimony are one loom 
beaded sash (84.1868), one sweet grass basket (71.226), and 15 
bandolier bags (84.1721, 84.1729a-b, 84.1707, 84.1719a-b, 84.1720a-b, 
84.1715a-b, 84.1708, 84.1717, 84.1711, 84.1714a-b, 84.1724a-b, 
84.1706a-b, 84.1716a-b, 84.1710, and 84.1727a-b).
    All these items are identified as Ojibwe in the Gilcrease Museum's 
records, and their cultural affiliation was confirmed during 
consultations with the Bois Forte Band (Nett Lake) and the Mille Lacs 
Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota. The birch bark basket 
is a communally owned ceremonial object that could not be separated by 
an individual from the community. The beaded sash and basket are 
communally owned, are still used in ceremonies today, and have on-going 
historical, traditional, and cultural importance to the Ojibwe. 
Likewise, bandolier bags are owned by the community, are still used in 
traditional ceremonies today, and have on-going historical, 
traditional, and cultural importance to the Ojibwe.
    Circa 1905, two cultural items were removed from a Mille Lacs Band 
of Ojibwe community in the Minneapolis, MN, by Mervin T. Miller. His 
son, Gordon Miller, inherited his father's collection and donated it to 
the Gilcrease Museum in 1972. The two sacred objects and objects of 
cultural patrimony are one pair of moccasins (84.2186a-b) and one 
beaded bag (84.2188).
    Both items are identified as Ojibwe in the Gilcrease's records. As 
they were collected from Minneapolis, more likely than not, they are 
affiliated with the Mille Lacs Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, 
Minnesota. During consultation, the moccasins and beaded bag were 
determined to be communally owned, can be used in a traditional 
ceremony or dance today, and have on-going historical, traditional, or 
cultural importance to the Ojibwe.
    Circa 1900, one cultural item was removed from an Ojibwe community. 
Emil Lenders, a painter and collector, traveled throughout the Plains 
around the turn of the century, at which time he acquired the item. In 
1950, Thomas Gilcrease purchased Lenders' collection, including this 
item. Gilcrease transferred his collection to the City of Tulsa in 
1955. The one sacred object and object of cultural patrimony is a pair 
of beaded cuffs (84.1847a-b).
    These beaded cuffs are identified as possibly Chippewa (Ojibwe) in 
the Gilcrease's records, and their Ojibwe affiliation was confirmed 
during consultation. Beaded garters are communally owned, are still 
used in a traditional ceremony today, and have on-going historical, 
traditional, or cultural importance to the Ojibwe.
    On an unknown date, one cultural item was removed from a Mille Lacs 
Band of Ojibwe community. It was purchased in a Warehouse Auction by 
John and Ruthene Alexander, who donated by them to the Gilcrease Museum 
in 2006. The one sacred object and object of cultural patrimony is a 
beaded bandolier bag (84.3295).
    This bandolier bag is identified as Ojibwe in the Gilcrease's 
records, and their Ojibwe affiliation was confirmed during 
consultation. Bandolier bags are communally owned, are still used in 
traditional ceremonies today, and have on-going historical, 
traditional, or cultural importance to the Ojibwe.
    In the early 1900s, one cultural item was removed from a Mille Lacs 
Band of Ojibwe community by Frank Engles, a collector. In 1950, Thomas 
Gilcrease purchased Frank Engles' collection, including this item. 
Gilcrease transferred his collection to the City of Tulsa in 1955. The 
one object of cultural patrimony is a war club with an attached scalp 
lock (73.247).
    Frank Engles made a note that read, ``The scalp is affiliated with 
the Ojebway [sic] tribe; however, the club belongs to the Chippeway 
[sic] of Minninsota [sic].'' Through consultation with Minnesota Ojibwe 
tribes, this item has been affiliated with the Mille Lacs Band of the 
Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota. The war club is communally owned 
and has on-going historical, traditional, and cultural importance to 
the Ojibwe.

Determinations Made by the Gilcrease Museum

    Officials of the Gilcrease Museum have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), 21 of the 23 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), all 23 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 Minnesota Chippewa 
Tribe, Minnesota (Mille Lacs Band).

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

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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 September 24, 2021. After that 
date, if no additional claimants have come forward, transfer of control 
of the sacred objects and/or objects of cultural patrimony to the 
Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota (Mille Lacs Band) may proceed.
    The Gilcrease Museum is responsible for notifying the Minnesota 
Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota (Mille Lacs Band) that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: August 11, 2021.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2021-18270 Filed 8-24-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P