[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 36 (Wednesday, February 23, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10237-10238]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-03740]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0033403; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: The Trustees of 
Reservations, Boston, MA

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Trustees of Reservations 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 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 Trustees of Reservations. 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 Trustees of Reservations at 
the address in this notice by March 25, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Wilson, Curator, The Trustees of 
Reservations, 1 Sergeant Street, P.O. Box 792, Stockbridge, MA 01262 
telephone (413) 298-3239 Ext. 3018, 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 Trustees of Reservations, Boston, MA, that meet the 
definition of 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

    Sometime in the 1930s, 20 cultural objects were removed from the 
Stockbridge-Munsee Community in Wisconsin. Miss Mabel Choate, working 
through an agent, purchased these objects for display at the Mission 
House Museum in Stockbridge, MA. (The purchase also included one 
communion set, which was returned to the Stockbridge-Munsee Community, 
Wisconsin in 2005; a two-volume Bible, which was returned to the 
Stockbridge-Munsee Community, Wisconsin in 1989; and six heirlooms of 
Sachem John Wannuaucon Quinney and Sachem Austin Quinney, which were 
returned to the Stockbridge-Munsee Community, Wisconsin in 2021.) In 
1948, Miss Choate donated the Mission House and its contents, including 
these objects, to The Trustees of Reservations.
    The 20 objects of cultural patrimony are: One woven basket 
(MH.P.16/8525); one woven basket with handle (MH.P.16/8526); one woven 
basket with handle (MH.P.16/8529); one tiered hanging basket (MH.P.16/
8539); one woven basket (MH.P.16/8542); one basket (MH.P.314); one 
basket (MH.P.323); one box with lid (MH.P.321); one wood bowl (MH.P.16/
8533); one wood bowl (MH.P.311); one food paddle (MH.P.16/8534); one 
food paddle (MH.P.310); one scoop (MH.P.308); one scoop with animal 
carving (MH.P.309); one Ziba T. Peters tobacco pipe (MH.P.313.1) and 
one pipe case (MH.P.313.2); one salt cellar (MH.P.16/8532); one kettle 
(MH.P.318); one conch shell (MH.C.Z.1); and one John Chickens powder 
horn (MH.2008.1). The John Chickens powder horn, conch shell, and scoop 
with animal carving date to the 18th century, while the remainder of 
the cultural objects listed in this notice date to the 19th century.
    In the 1730s, in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, the Stockbridge 
Mohicans (present-day Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin) accepted 
the Reverend John Sergeant as a Christian missionary. In 1785, the 
Stockbridge Mohicans began to be forcibly removed from Stockbridge. 
Subsequently, they endured multiple removals from the Northeast before 
finally arriving in Wisconsin.
    Cultural affiliation with the Stockbridge Munsee Community is 
established through records held in the archives of the Mission House. 
Consultation with representatives of the Stockbridge Munsee Community 
confirm that these objects have ongoing historical, traditional, and 
cultural importance central to the Stockbridge Munsee Community, 
Wisconsin.

Determinations Made by The Trustees of Reservations

    Officials of The Trustees of Reservations have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(D), the 20 cultural objects 
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 objects 
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 
these cultural items should submit a written request with information 
in support of the claim to Mark Wilson, Curator, The Trustees of 
Reservations, 1 Sergeant Street, P.O. Box 792, Stockbridge, MA 01262 
telephone (413) 298-3239 Ext. 3018, email [email protected], by 
March 25, 2022. After that date, if no additional claimants have come 
forward, transfer of control of the objects of cultural patrimony to 
the Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin may proceed.
    The Trustees of Reservations is responsible for notifying the

[[Page 10238]]

Stockbridge Munsee Community, Wisconsin that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: February 9, 2022.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2022-03740 Filed 2-22-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P