[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 133 (Thursday, July 11, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56894-56895]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-15198]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0038220; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intended Repatriation: Minnesota Historical Society, 
St. Paul, MN

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 Minnesota Historical Society intends to 
repatriate a certain cultural item that meets the definition of an 
unassociated funerary object and sacred object and that has a cultural 
affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in 
this notice.

DATES: Repatriation of the cultural item in this notice may occur on or 
after August 12, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Cecily Marcus, Minnesota Historical Society, 345 West 
Kellogg Boulevard, Saint Paul, MN 55102, telephone (651) 259-3123, 
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 
Minnesota Historical Society, 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 one cultural item has been requested for repatriation. 
The one item, determined by MNHS and Native American consultants to be 
both an Unassociated Funerary Object and a Sacred Object, is the noose 
used to execute Wicanhpi Wastedanpi (Good Little Stars, or, Chaske), 
also known as the ``Mankato Hanging Rope'' (MNHS #3333.H474). Wicanhpi 
Wastedanpi was one of the 38 Dakota men hanged on December 26, 1862 in 
Mankato, MN.

[[Page 56895]]

Museum records indicate the noose was removed from the neck of Wicanhpi 
Wastedanpi by Army Adjutant J.K. Arnold after the hangings, and donated 
by him to MNHS in 1869. The cultural affiliation of the item is to all 
federally recognized U.S. Dakota Tribes as determined by museum records 
and consultation with tribal representatives. No potentially hazardous 
substances are known to have been used to treat this item.

Determinations

    The Minnesota Historical Society has determined that:
     The one unassociated funerary object described in this 
notice is reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with or 
near human remains, and are connected, either at the time of death or 
later as part of the death rite or ceremony of a Native American 
culture according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a 
lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization. The 
unassociated funerary objects have been identified by a preponderance 
of the evidence as related to human remains, specific individuals, or 
families, or removed from a specific burial site or burial area of an 
individual or individuals with cultural affiliation to an Indian Tribe 
or Native Hawaiian organization.
     The one sacred object described in this notice is 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.
     There is a reasonable connection between the cultural item 
described in this notice and the Prairie Island Indian Community in the 
State of Minnesota.

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 August 12, 2024. If competing requests for 
repatriation are received, the Minnesota Historical Society 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 Minnesota Historical 
Society 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: June 26, 2024.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2024-15198 Filed 7-10-24; 8:45 am]
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