80 FR 52493 - Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: New York State Museum, Albany, NY

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 168 (August 31, 2015)

The New York State Museum, in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, has determined that the cultural items listed in this notice meet the definition of sacred objects and objects of cultural patrimony. Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to claim these cultural items should submit a written request to the New York State Museum. If no additional claimants come forward, transfer of control of the cultural items to the lineal descendants, Indian tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 168 (Monday, August 31, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52493-52494]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-21499]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-18954;PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: New York State 
Museum, Albany, NY

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The New York State Museum, in consultation with the 
appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, has 
determined that the cultural items listed in this notice meet the 
definition of sacred objects and objects of cultural patrimony. Lineal 
descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian 
organization not identified in this notice that wish to claim these 
cultural items should submit a written request to the New York State 
Museum. If no additional claimants come forward, transfer of control of 
the cultural items to the lineal descendants, Indian tribes, or Native 
Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

DATES: Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or 
Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
claim these cultural items should submit a written request with 
information in support of the claim to the New York State Museum at the 
address in this notice by September 30, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Lisa Anderson, New York State Museum, 3049 Cultural 
Education Center, Albany, NY 12230, telephone (518) 486-2020, email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is here given in accordance with the 
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 
U.S.C. 3005, of the intent to repatriate cultural items under the 
control of the New York State Museum, Albany, NY, that meet the 
definition of sacred objects and objects of cultural patrimony under 25 
U.S.C. 3001.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d)(3). The 
determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the Native 
American cultural items. The National Park Service is not responsible 
for the determinations in this notice.

History and Description of the Cultural Item(s)

    In 1898, Harriet Maxwell Converse of New York City, NY, donated 34 
cultural items to the New York State Museum. The cultural items are 31 
wooden medicine masks (E-36868, E-35, E-36919, E-37013, E-37014, E-
37020, E-37021, E-37026, E-37028, E-37032, E-37035, E-37036, E-37040, 
E-37041, E-37044, E-37046, E-37058, E-37060, E-37060A, E-37597, E-
37606, E-37607, E-37610, E-37611, E-37612, E-37617, E-37619, E-37620, 
E-37622, E-37625, E-42) and 3 cornhusk medicine masks (E-36747, E-
36926, E-36927).
    In the late 19th century, Adelbert G. Richmond of Canajoharie, NY, 
acquired two cultural items. The cultural items are two wooden medicine 
masks (E-37025, E-37055).
    In 1956, three cultural items were purchased from the Logan Museum 
of Anthropology, Beloit College, WI. The cultural items were part of a 
larger collection made by Albert Green Heath. The three cultural items 
are one large wooden medicine mask (E-50317) and two miniature wooden 
medicine masks (E-50313, E-50314).
    In 1961, one cultural item was acquired from Judith Drumm, a former 
museum educator. The cultural item is a cornhusk medicine mask (E-
50465).
    In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, 25 cultural items 
identified as Iroquois were acquired from unknown individuals. The 25 
cultural items are 17 wooden medicine masks (E-36910, E-36913, E-37019, 
E-37034, E-37049, E-37051, E-37052, E-37599, E-37600, E-37602, E-37609, 
E-37615, E-37624, E-37627, E-39325, E-5, E-no#79), five cornhusk 
medicine masks (E-13A, E-13B, E-36748, E-36923, E-36926), and three 
miniature cornhusk masks (E-36632, E-51025A, E-51025B).
    Museum records identify the affiliation of the 65 objects described 
in this notice as ``Iroquois.'' According to oral evidence presented 
during consultation with the Haudenosaunee Standing Committee on Burial 
Rules and Regulations, the Onondaga Nation is the keeper of the central 
fire of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. As the keeper of the central 
fire, the Onondaga Nation has the responsibility to care for and return 
to the appropriate Nation Haudenosaunee cultural objects that are not 
specifically affiliated with any one Haudenosaunee Nation. Therefore, 
it is the understanding of all the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Nations 
that any medicine masks affiliated generally as ``Iroquois'' are 
affiliated with the Onondaga Nation.

Determinations Made by the New York State Museum

    Officials of the New York State Museum have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), the 65 cultural items 
described above are specific ceremonial objects needed by traditional 
Native American religious leaders for the practice of traditional 
Native American religions by their present-day adherents, and have an 
ongoing historical, traditional, or cultural importance central to the 
Native American group or culture itself, rather than property owned by 
an individual.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the sacred 
objects and objects of cultural patrimony and the Onondaga Nation on 
behalf of Haudenosaunee Confederacy Nations.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native 
Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to claim 
these cultural items should submit a written request with information 
in support of the claim to Lisa Anderson, New York State Museum, 3049 
Cultural Education Center, Albany, NY 12230, telephone (518) 486-2020, 
email [email protected], by September 30, 2015. After that date, 
if no additional claimants have come forward, transfer of control of 
the sacred objects and objects of cultural patrimony to the Onondaga 
Nation may proceed.
    The New York State Museum is responsible for notifying the Cayuga 
Nation; Oneida Nation of New York; Oneida Tribe of Indians of 
Wisconsin; Onondaga Nation; Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe (previously listed 
as the St. Regis Band of Mohawk Indians of New York);

[[Page 52494]]

Seneca Nation of Indians (previously listed as the Seneca Nation of New 
York); Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma; Tonawanda Band of Seneca 
(previously listed as the Tonawanda Band of Seneca Indians of New 
York); and Tuscarora Nation that this notice has been published.

    Dated: July 31, 2015.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2015-21499 Filed 8-28-15; 8:45 am]
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