[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 162 (Wednesday, August 21, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 67656]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-18683]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0038505; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intended Repatriation: American Museum of Natural 
History, New York, NY

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 American Museum of Natural History 
(AMNH) intends to repatriate a certain cultural item that meets the 
definition of a sacred object and that has a cultural affiliation with 
the Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

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

ADDRESSES: Nell Murphy, American Museum of Natural History, Central 
Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY 10024, telephone (212) 769-5837, 
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 
AMNH, 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 mahiole or feather helmet. The cultural item 
was found in storage. However, based on Museum records, consultation as 
well as information in the published literature, the item is presumed 
to have originated in Hawai[revaps]i. In 1907, it was recorded in the 
Museum's catalog as a feather helmet from the Hawaiian Islands, 
Collector Unknown. A catalog card located in the Division of 
Anthropology Archives dates the helmet to pre-1907, as this is the year 
it appears to have been located. The Collector is unknown.

Determinations

    The American Museum of Natural History has determined that:
     The one sacred object 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
     There is a reasonable connection between the cultural item 
described in this notice and the Na Hoa Aloha O Ka Pu[revaps]uhonua o 
H[ouml]naunau and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

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 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 Native Hawaiian organization.
    Repatriation of the cultural item in this notice to a requestor may 
occur on or after September 20, 2024. If competing requests for 
repatriation are received, the AMNH 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 AMNH is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to 
the Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice.
    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. 2024-18683 Filed 8-20-24; 8:45 am]
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