[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 110 (Thursday, June 8, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37573-37574]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-12283]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0035978; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Denver Museum of 
Nature & Science. Denver, CO

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and 
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Denver Museum of Nature & Science 
intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet both the 
definition of sacred objects and the definition of objects of cultural 
patrimony, and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes 
or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice. The cultural items 
were removed from the State of New York and Canada.

DATES: Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on 
or after July 10, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Chris Patrello, Curator of Anthropology, Denver Museum of 
Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver CO 80205, telephone (303) 
370-6378, 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 
Denver Museum of Nature & Science. 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 Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

Description

    The 83 cultural items listed in this notice were removed from 
several locations in the State of New York and Ontario, Canada, 
beginning in 1965. Of this number, 79 cultural items were purchased by 
collectors Mary and Francis Crane, who donated their collection to the 
Denver Museum of Nature & Science (then the Denver Museum of Natural 
History) between 1968 and 1983. In 1965, the Cranes purchased from 
Gerald Fenstermaker eight Medicine Faces (AC.8544, AC.9717, AC.9722, 
AC.9724, AC.9727, AC.9728, AC.9729, AC.9742); two Corn Husk Faces 
(AC.9709, AC.9711); two Husk Face Figurines comprising a set (AC.9825A-
B); three Medicine Face Figurines comprising a set (AC.9826A-C); nine 
Medicine Face Figurines comprising a set (AC.8554A-I); and 10 Medicine 
Face Figurines comprising a set (AC.11957A-J). These cultural items had 
been removed from various locations in the State of New York and 
Ontario, Canada. Between 1965 and 1967, the Cranes purchased from 
Howard B. Roloff three Corn Husk Faces (AC.8341, AC.8381 AC.9714); 25 
Medicine Faces (AC.8375, AC.8379, AC.8390, AC.8391, AC.8444, AC.10284, 
AC.10285, AC.10319, AC.10330, AC.10333A-K, AC.8406A-E); 12 Medicine 
Face Figurines comprising a set (AC.8285A-L); and four Medicine Face 
Figurines comprising a set (AC.10328). These cultural items had been 
acquired from the Six Nations of the Grand River Reserve in Ontario, 
Canada. In 1969, the Cranes purchased a figurine wearing a Medicine 
Face from the Las Novedades Gallery in Taos, NM (AC.7684). The figurine 
is identified as Haudenosaunee.
    In 1990, one Medicine Face (A1648.1) was transferred from the 
Museum's Education Collection to its Anthropology Collection. In 1999, 
during a NAGPRA consultation, representatives of the Haudenosaunee 
Confederacy suggested that this cultural item is a copy of an older 
mask made by Elon Webster, an Onondaga carver from the Tonawanda 
Reservation in New York.
    In 1989, the Museum purchased three cultural items from William H. 
Hensler of Aurora, CO. Hensler had acquired these items from Iroqrafts, 
an arts and crafts store located on the Six Nations of the Grand River 
Reserve in Canada. The items are three Medicine Faces (A1633.1, 
A1633.2, and A1633.3). Museum records indicate that A1633.1 and A1633.2 
were made by ``He Keeps Ice'' and are affiliated with the Cayuga Wolf 
clan, and that A1633.3 was made by ``Across the River'' and is 
affiliated with the Mohawk Turtle Clan.
    The Denver Museum of Nature & Science acknowledges that the 
Haudenosaunee Confederacy predates the establishment of the 
geopolitical borders that separate its territories. Haudenosaunee 
communities maintain unbroken political, cultural, spiritual, and 
economic ties to their lands. The cultural items listed in this notice 
belong to the Confederacy, and as Keepers of the Central Fire of the 
Haudenosaunee, the Onondaga Nation is responsible for their care and 
protection. In a letter dated Feb. 21, 2022, Christine G. Abrams, 
Acting Chair of the Haudenosaunee Standing Committee on Burial Rules 
and

[[Page 37574]]

Regulations, informed the Museum that the Standing Committee had 
approved the Onondaga Nation's request to repatriate Medicine Faces, 
Corn Husk Faces, and figurines wearing Medicine Faces or Corn Husk 
Faces designated as ``Haudenosaunee,'' ``Iroquois,'' and ``Grand 
River,'' as well as those with multiple affiliations.

Cultural Affiliation

    The cultural items in this notice are connected to one or more 
identifiable earlier groups, tribes, peoples, or cultures. There is a 
relationship of shared group identity between the identifiable earlier 
groups, tribes, peoples, or cultures and one or more Indian Tribes or 
Native Hawaiian organizations. The following types of information were 
used to reasonably trace the relationship: anthropological, folkloric, 
geographical, historical, oral traditional, other relevant information, 
and expert opinion.

Determinations

    Pursuant to NAGPRA and its implementing regulations, and after 
consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian 
organizations, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science has determined 
that:
     The 83 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.
     The 83 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.
     There is a relationship of shared group identity that can 
be reasonably traced between the cultural items and the Onondaga 
Nation.

Requests for Repatriation

    Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items 
in this notice must be sent to the Responsible Official identified in 
ADDRESSES. Requests for repatriation may be submitted by any lineal 
descendant, Indian Tribe, 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 Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.
    Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to a requestor 
may occur on or after July 10, 2023. If competing requests for 
repatriation are received, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science must 
determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. 
Requests for joint repatriation of the cultural items are considered a 
single request and not competing requests. The Denver Museum of Nature 
& Science is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the 
Indian Tribe 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 31, 2023.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2023-12283 Filed 6-7-23; 8:45 am]
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