[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 146 (Tuesday, July 30, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 61136]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-16701]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0038345; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intended Repatriation: Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, 
Richmond, VA

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 Virginia Museum of Fine Arts intends to 
repatriate a certain cultural item that meets the definition of a 
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 29, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Kelly Burrow, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, 200 N. Arthur 
Ashe Boulevard, Richmond, VA 23220, telephone (804) 204-2669, 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 
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, 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 sacred object is a painted shield made of buffalo hide, and the 
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts records identify the shield as Pueblo of 
Santa Ana. The shield was purchased from Christie's New York, Sale 
1688, Lot 144, January 12, 2006, by Robert and Nancy Nooter, who 
donated it to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in June 2017. Results of 
consultation with the Pueblo of Santa Ana Tribal Historic Preservation 
Office and Conservation Enforcement confirm that this sacred object 
originated from the Pueblo of Santa Ana, New Mexico.

Determinations

    The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts has determined that:
     The one sacred object described in this notice is a 
specific ceremonial object 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 Pueblo of Santa Ana, New Mexico.

Requests for Repatriation

    Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural item 
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 item in this notice to a requestor may 
occur on or after August 29, 2024. If competing requests for 
repatriation are received, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts must 
determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. 
Requests for joint repatriation of the cultural item is considered a 
single request and not competing requests. The Virginia Museum of Fine 
Arts 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: July 17, 2024.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2024-16701 Filed 7-29-24; 8:45 am]
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