[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 139 (Thursday, July 21, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43551-43552]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-15550]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0034235; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Mattatuck Museum, 
Waterbury, CT

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Mattatuck 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 a sacred 
object. 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 
Mattatuck 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

[[Page 43552]]

a written request with information in support of the claim to the 
Mattatuck Museum at the address in this notice by August 22, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cecelia Feldman, Mattatuck Museum, 144 
West Main Street, Waterbury, CT 06702, telephone (203) 753-0381 Ext. 
115, 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 the Mattatuck Museum, Waterbury, CT, that meets the 
definition of a sacred object 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 item. The National Park Service is not responsible 
for the determinations in this notice.

History and Description of the Cultural Item

    This object is a thirteen-inch-long rattle made from a snapping 
turtle shell with a wooden handle attached to the base. Red and green 
string is wrapped around the handle, which obscures the head of the 
snapping turtle. Red paint has been applied to the underside of the 
turtle shell. Text on the underside states: ``SENECAS TURKEY FORD OKLA. 
MARY LOGAN 67.29.5.'' The accession number of this object indicates it 
came to the museum in 1967. The text written on the object indicates an 
origin in Turkey Ford, Oklahoma, a town associated with the Seneca-
Cayuga Nation. Mary Logan is a well-documented ceremonial leader from 
this community. Beyond the text associated with this object, the 
Mattatuck Museum holds no additional records concerning the provenance 
of the object.

Determinations Made by the Mattatuck Museum

    Officials of the Mattatuck Museum have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), the one cultural item 
described above is a specific ceremonial object 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 sacred 
object and the Seneca-Cayuga Nation (previously listed as Seneca-Cayuga 
Tribe of Oklahoma).

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 Cecelia Feldman, Mattatuck Museum, 144 West 
Main Street, Waterbury, CT 06702, telephone (203) 753-0381 Ext. 115, 
email [email protected], by August 22, 2022. After that date, if no 
additional claimants have come forward, transfer of control of the 
sacred object to the Seneca-Cayuga Nation (previously listed as Seneca-
Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma) may proceed.
    The Mattatuck Museum is responsible for notifying the Seneca-Cayuga 
Nation (previously listed as Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma) that this 
notice has been published.

    Dated: July 13, 2022.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2022-15550 Filed 7-20-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P