81 FR 43637 - Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 128 (July 5, 2016)

The Field Museum of Natural History, 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. 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 Field Museum of Natural History. 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 81, Number 128 (Tuesday, July 5, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43637-43638]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-15843]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-21346; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Field Museum of 
Natural History, Chicago, IL

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Field Museum of Natural History, 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. 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 Field Museum of Natural History. If no additional 
claimants come forward,

[[Page 43638]]

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 Field Museum of Natural 
History at the address in this notice by August 4, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Helen Robbins, Repatriation Director, The Field Museum of 
Natural History, 1400 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605, 
telephone (312) 665-7317, 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 Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL, which meet 
the definition of sacred objects 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 1916, a buckskin dance skirt from the Smith River in Del Norte 
County, CA, represented by catalog number 62628, was accessioned by The 
Field Museum of Natural History. Museum records indicate that this item 
is Tolowa in origin. The source for this cultural item was recorded as 
``Old Ned's Wife,'' likely collected by Grace Nicholson. This item was 
gifted to the Museum by Edward Ayer, who is presumed to have purchased 
the skirt from Ms. Nicholson in her Pasadena store. It is possible that 
this item was collected prior to the museum accession date.
    In 1918, a Gala buckskin dress, represented by catalog number 
62997, and a buckskin headband, represented by catalog number 62999, 
both from California, were accessioned by The Field Museum. Museum 
records indicate that these items are Tolowa in origin, and were 
purchased by Edward Ayer from Grace Nicholson's collection in Pasadena. 
It is possible that these items were collected prior to the museum 
accession date.
    The buckskin dance skirt and the Gala buckskin dress were 
historically and are presently used by young women in a number of 
Tolowa ceremonies, including the World Renewal Ceremony (Nee-dash) and 
Puberty Ceremony. The buckskin headdress was and is used by men and 
boys during the same ceremonies. The role and significance of these 
ceremonial items to the people of northern California has been 
confirmed through consultation with the Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation, numerous 
ethnographic texts, and the contemporary records and publications of 
various museums, both in terms of their religious importance to the 
individual wearer and to the Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation (Tolowa people).
    The Tolowa Dee-ni' are culturally affiliated with the area from 
which the sacred objects were removed. This is supported by 
consultation with the Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation and other northern 
California nations, Department of the Interior sources, and academic 
publications that closely detail genocide, relocations, political 
organization, and cultural practice over the course of northern 
California history from the 1800s to the present.

Determinations Made by The Field Museum of Natural History

    Officials of The Field Museum of Natural History have determined 
that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), the three 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.
     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 the Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation (previously listed as the Smith 
River Rancheria, California).

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 Helen Robbins, Repatriation Director, The 
Field Museum of Natural History, 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago, IL 
60605, telephone (312) 665-7317, email [email protected], by 
August 4, 2016. After that date, if no additional claimants have come 
forward, transfer of control of the sacred objects to the Tolowa Dee-
ni' Nation (previously listed as the Smith River Rancheria, California) 
may proceed.
    The Field Museum of Natural History is responsible for notifying 
the Big Lagoon Rancheria, California; the Blue Lake Rancheria, 
California; the Elk Valley Rancheria, California; the Tolowa Dee-ni' 
Nation (previously listed as the Smith River Rancheria, California); 
and the Cher-Ae Heights Indian Community of the Trinidad Rancheria, 
California, that this notice has been published.

    Dated: June 20, 2016.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2016-15843 Filed 7-1-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-50-P