[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 47 (Friday, March 8, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16788-16789]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-04988]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0037563; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intended Repatriation: Field Museum, Chicago, IL

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 Field Museum intends to repatriate 
certain cultural items that meet the definition of sacred objects and 
that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native 
Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

DATES: Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on 
or after April 8, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Helen Robbins, Repatriation Director, Field Museum, 1400 S 
Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605, telephone (312) 665-7317, 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 
Field Museum and additional information on the determinations in this 
notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in the 
summary or related records. The National Park Service is not 
responsible for the determinations in this notice.

Abstract of Information Available

    A total of two cultural items have been requested for repatriation. 
The two sacred objects are pipes. The pipes were collected by Stewart 
Culin in 1900 at an ``Indian Rancheria on the Mad River'' in the Hoopa 
Valley. At the request of the Wiyot Tribe the cultural items were 
tested to determine whether they had been treated with contaminants. 
There is no known presence of any potentially hazardous substances.

Determinations

    The Field Museum has determined that:
     The two sacred objects described in this notice are 
specific ceremonial objects needed by a traditional Native American 
religious leader for present-day adherents to practice traditional 
Native American religion, according to the Native American traditional 
knowledge of a lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian 
organization.
     The two sacred objects described in this notice are, 
according to the Native American traditional knowledge of an Indian 
Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization, specific ceremonial objects 
needed by a traditional Native American religious leader for present-
day adherents to practice traditional Native American religion, and 
have ongoing historical, traditional, or cultural importance central to 
the Native American group, including any constituent sub-group (such as 
a band, clan, lineage, ceremonial society, or other subdivision).
     There is a reasonable connection between the cultural 
items described in this notice and the Wiyot Tribe, California.

[[Page 16789]]

Requests for Repatriation

    Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items 
in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified 
in this notice under 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 April 8, 2024. If competing requests for 
repatriation are received, the Field Museum 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 Field Museum is responsible for sending a 
copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian 
organizations identified in this notice and to any other consulting 
parties.
    Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 
25 U.S.C. 3004 and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9.

    Dated: February 29, 2024.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2024-04988 Filed 3-7-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P