[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 122 (Monday, June 27, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38174-38175]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-13620]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0034103; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: University of 
Denver Museum of Anthropology, Denver, CO

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The University of Denver Museum of Anthropology, 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 unassociated funerary objects and sacred 
objects. 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 
University of Denver Museum of Anthropology. 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 University of Denver Museum 
of Anthropology at the address in this notice by July 27, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anne Amati, University of Denver 
Museum of Anthropology, 2000 E Asbury Avenue, Sturm Hall 146, Denver, 
CO 80208, telephone (303) 871-2687, 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 University of Denver Museum of Anthropology, Denver, CO, 
that meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects and sacred 
objects 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

[[Page 38175]]

Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.

History and Description of the Cultural Items

    At an unknown date, 37 cultural items were removed from unknown 
sites in unknown counties in WY. At an unknown date, the cultural items 
came into the possession of Theodore Sowers. Mr. Sowers was a graduate 
of the University of Denver and, in 1995, his daughters donated the 
cultural items to the University of Denver. The 37 unassociated 
funerary objects are one arrow shaft (DU ID# 1995.1.25), nine awls (DU 
ID#s 1995.1.16, 1995.1.34-37 and 1995.1.39-42), two dress adornments 
(DU ID#s 1995.1.23-24), two earrings (DU ID#s 1995.1.21-22), two 
gorgets (DU ID#s 1995.1.38 and 1995.1.49), one worked horn (DU ID# 
1995.1.17), one finger knife (DU ID# 1995.1.26), one mirror (DU 
ID#1995.1.51), three projectile points (DU ID#s 1995.1.27-28 and 
1995.1.33), three scrapers (DU ID#s 1995.1.30-32), one Sun Dance brooch 
(DU ID# 1995.1.50), six tools (DU ID#s 1995.1.19-20, 1995.1.29, 
1995.1.43, 1995.1.45 and 1995.1.52), one hair decoration (DU ID# 
1995.1.46), three whistles (DU ID#s 1995.1.44, 1995.1.47-48), and one 
piece of worked wood (DU ID# 1995.1.18).
    At an unknown date, one cultural item was removed from an unknown 
site in WY. At an unknown date, the cultural item came into the 
possession of Theodore Sowers. Mr. Sowers was a graduate of the 
University of Denver and, in 1995, his daughters donated the cultural 
item to the University of Denver. The one sacred object is a steatite 
pipe bowl (DU ID# 4155).
    The Eastern Shoshone Tribe of the Wind River Reservation, Wyoming 
(previously listed as Shoshone Tribe of the Wind River Reservation, 
Wyoming), have been living on the Wind River Mountain range and its 
environs for some 12,000 years. Museum records indicate that the 37 
cultural items were removed from a burial. During consultation in March 
of 2019, Eastern Shoshone Tribal Historic Preservation Office (THPO) 
staff and a Cultural/Spiritual Representative demonstrated that the one 
cultural item is a sacred object. They also demonstrated that all these 
items are culturally affiliated with the Eastern Shoshone Tribe of the 
Wind River Reservation, Wyoming (previously listed as Shoshone Tribe of 
the Wind River Reservation, Wyoming).

Determinations Made by the University of Denver Museum of Anthropology

    Officials of the University of Denver Museum of Anthropology have 
determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(B), the 37 cultural items 
described above are reasonably believed to have been placed with or 
near individual human remains at the time of death or later as part of 
the death rite or ceremony and are believed, by a preponderance of the 
evidence, to have been removed from a specific burial site of a Native 
American individual.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), the one cultural item 
described above is a 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(2), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the 
unassociated funerary objects and sacred object and the Eastern 
Shoshone Tribe of the Wind River Reservation, Wyoming (previously 
listed as Shoshone Tribe of the Wind River Reservation, Wyoming).

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 Anne Amati, University of Denver Museum of 
Anthropology, 2000 E Asbury Avenue, Sturm 146, Denver, CO 80208, 
telephone (303) 871-2687, email [email protected], by July 27, 2022. 
After that date, if no additional claimants have come forward, transfer 
of control of the unassociated funerary objects and sacred object to 
the Eastern Shoshone Tribe of the Wind River Reservation, Wyoming 
(previously listed as Shoshone Tribe of the Wind River Reservation, 
Wyoming) may proceed.
    The University of Denver Museum of Anthropology is responsible for 
notifying the Eastern Shoshone Tribe of the Wind River Reservation, 
Wyoming (previously listed as Shoshone Tribe of the Wind River 
Reservation, Wyoming) that this notice has been published.

    Dated: June 10, 2022.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2022-13620 Filed 6-24-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P