[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 162 (Wednesday, August 21, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 67668]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-18679]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0038527; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intended Repatriation: University of North Dakota, 
Grand Forks, ND, and University of North Dakota Alumni Association & 
Foundation, Grand Forks, ND

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 University of North Dakota and the UND 
Alumni Association & Foundation intend to repatriate certain cultural 
items that meet the definition of sacred objects and that have a known 
lineal descendant.

DATES: Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on 
or after September 20, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Dr. Crystal Alberts, University of North Dakota, Twamley 
Hall Room 300, 264 Centennial Drive, Grand Forks, ND 58202, telephone 
(701) 777-2393, 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 
University of North Dakota and the UND Alumni Association & Foundation, 
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 one pipe and an associated pipe bag. Neither 
object has been treated with potentially hazardous substances to the 
best of the institutions' knowledge.
    These items were a part of the Victor A. Corbett Collection, gifted 
to the UND Alumni Association & Foundation (UNDAAF) circa February 
1988. According to the New York City-based appraisers consulted by the 
UNDAAF in the 1980s, most of these items were estimated to date from 
the 1890s through the 1950s with most acquired by Corbett in the 1940s 
and 50s and appear to be from tribes in what is now North Dakota and 
surrounding states.
    Victor A. Corbett, a dentist in Minot, ND, from 1931-1984, was 
reported to accept artifacts from Native Americans in the surrounding 
area, namely the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and the residents of the 
nearby Three Affiliated Tribes of Fort Berthold Reservation, sometimes 
in lieu of payment for dental services. Documents suggest he also 
collected objects related to Native American culture through various 
means, including purchasing and commissioning custom-made pieces. 
Additionally, research suggests that he would take objects from 
patients as collateral for an outstanding bill for dental services 
rendered. Collection records do not provide any additional information 
regarding the objects' provenience or provenance.
    Included in this collection is a pipe bag described by the 
appraiser as ``Buckskin pipe bag . . . Quilled panelling and leather 
fringe. Lazy-stitch beading. Probably SIOUX; c.1890. 7x24.'' The design 
is geometric; the opening features a blue and black design broken up at 
regular intervals by narrow red lines. The top half is primarily plain 
buckskin with a white, blue and red symmetrical border on each side 
punctuated by three double pointed patterns at the bottom (red, blue, 
yellow, blue, white). The middle section features another symmetrical 
pattern with four red, blue, and yellow squares on the outside with two 
red and blue diamond plus a smaller, connected squares of the same 
color pattern surrounding a solid green square in the middle. These are 
placed on a white background with blue stitching on the side. The next 
portion is red fringe with three symmetrical white, possibly gray, and 
yellow squares across the middle. The bag ends with buckskin fringe. 
The accompanying ceremonial pipe is red and described by the appraiser 
as ``Pipe and stem; plain cylindrical ash stem, with carved red 
catlinite T bowl; shallow diagonal oval cuts at one end of the bowl. 
SIOUX. Overall length: 21\3/8\.''
    After viewing and interpreting each, a Dakota tribal elder and Mr. 
Timothy J. Mentz, Sr., a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, noted 
that these items belonged to Chief Big Head (Pa Tanka), a 19th century 
Upper Yanktonai leader.

Determinations

    The University of North Dakota and the UND Alumni Association & 
Foundation have 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.
     Mr. Timothy J. Mentz, Sr. (Standing Rock Sioux Tribe of 
North & South Dakota) is connected to the cultural items described in 
this notice.

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 September 20, 2024. If competing requests for 
repatriation are received, the University of North Dakota and the UND 
Alumni Association & Foundation 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 University of North Dakota and the UND Alumni Association 
& Foundation are 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: August 7, 2024.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2024-18679 Filed 8-20-24; 8:45 am]
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