[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 170 (Tuesday, September 3, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 71388]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-19681]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0038632; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intended Repatriation: Denver Museum of Nature & 
Science, Denver, CO

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 Denver Museum of Nature & Science 
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 October 3, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Chris Patrello, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 
Colorado Boulevard, Denver, CO 80205, telephone (303) 370-6378, 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 
Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 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 14 cultural items have been requested for repatriation. 
The 14 sacred objects are five baskets, five wooden plaques, one dance 
shield, one T-necklace, one beaded shawl, and one dance cane. 13 of the 
14 sacred objects were purchased by Mary and Francis Crane, who donated 
their collection to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science between 1968 
and 1983. In 1954, Mary and Francis Crane purchased two woven plates 
(AC.58 and AC.106), identified as White Mountain Apache, from 
Kohlberg's Antiques and Indian Arts in Denver, Colorado. In 1958, Mary 
and Francis Crane purchased two woven plates (AC.3047 and AC.3152) from 
Julian D. Pyatt of Trenton, Missouri. In 1959, Mary and Francis Crane 
purchased a White Mountain Apache beaded shawl (AC.4353) from National 
News and Gift Shop in Globe, Arizona. In 1964, Mary and Francis Crane 
purchased one dance shield (AC.7619), one T-necklace (AC.7621), one 
dance cane (AC.8088), and five wooden plaques (AC.8090A-E) from the 
Forestdale Trading post in Show Low, Arizona, all of which are 
identified as White Mountain Apache. In 2003, the estate of Donald 
Graham donated one White Mountain Apache basket (AN-2003-91.1) to the 
Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

Determinations

    The Denver Museum of Nature & Science has determined that:
     The 14 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.
     There is a reasonable connection between the cultural 
items described in this notice and the White Mountain Apache Tribe of 
the Fort Apache Reservation, Arizona.

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 October 3, 2024. If competing requests for 
repatriation are received, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science 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 Denver Museum of Nature 
& Science 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: August 26, 2024.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2024-19681 Filed 8-30-24; 8:45 am]
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