[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 105 (Thursday, June 1, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35907-35908]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-11690]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0035955; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: American Museum of 
Natural History, New York, NY

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and

[[Page 35908]]

Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the American Museum of Natural History 
(AMNH) intends to repatriate a certain cultural item that meets the 
definition of a sacred object and that has a cultural affiliation with 
the Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice. The cultural item 
most likely was removed from the State of Hawaii.

DATES: Repatriation of the cultural item in this notice may occur on or 
after July 3, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Nell Murphy, American Museum of Natural History, Central 
Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY 10024, telephone (212) 769-5837, 
email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is published as part of the 
National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. 
The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
American Museum of Natural History. The National Park Service is not 
responsible for the determinations in this notice. Additional 
information on the determinations in this notice, including the results 
of consultation, can be found in the summary or related records held by 
the American Museum of Natural History.

Description

    The one cultural item found in storage. In 1907, it was recorded in 
the Museum's catalog as a feather mask from ``the Hawaiian Islands, 
Collector Unknown.'' Based on consultation, as well as information in 
the published literature, this item most likely originated in Hawai'i. 
The one sacred object is an akua hulu manu, or Hawaiian feather god.

Cultural Affiliation

    A detailed assessment of the sacred object was made by AMNH staff 
in consultation with representatives of Na Hoa Aloha O Ka Pu`uhonua o 
H[ouml]naunau (Na Hoa Aloha) and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA). 
There is a relationship of shared group identity that can reasonably be 
traced between the sacred object and present-day Native Hawaiian 
organizations listed in this notice. The following types of information 
were used to reasonably trace the relationship: anthropological, 
historical, oral traditional, and expert opinion.

Determinations

    Pursuant to NAGPRA and its implementing regulations, and after 
consultation with the appropriate Native Hawaiian organizations, the 
American Museum of Natural History has 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 Hawaiian religious leaders for the practice of traditional 
Native Hawaiian 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 
cultural item and the Na Hoa Aloha O Ka Pu`uhonua o H[ouml]naunau and 
the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Requests for Repatriation

    Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural item 
in this notice must be sent to the Responsible Official identified in 
ADDRESSES. Requests for repatriation may be submitted by any lineal 
descendant or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this 
notice who shows, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the 
requestor is a lineal descendant or a culturally affiliated Native 
Hawaiian organization.
    Repatriation of the cultural item in this notice to a requestor may 
occur on or after July 3, 2023. If competing requests for repatriation 
are received, the American Museum of Natural History must determine the 
most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint 
repatriation of the cultural item are considered a single request and 
not competing requests. The American Museum of Natural History is 
responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Native Hawaiian 
organizations identified in this notice.
    Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 
25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.8, 10.10, 
and 10.14.

    Dated: May 24, 2023.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2023-11690 Filed 5-31-23; 8:45 am]
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