Federal Register: June 15, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 114)NoticesPage 32682-32683From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

DOCID:fr15jn98-72

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items from Arizona in the Possession of the Museum of Indian Arts and Cultures/Laboratory of Anthropology, Museum of New Mexico, Santa Fe, NM

AGENCY: National Park Service

ACTION: Notice

Notice is hereby given under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 43 CFR 10.10 (a)(3), of the intent to repatriate cultural items in the possession of the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture/Laboratory of Anthropology, Museum of New Mexico, Santa Fe, NM which meet the definition of ``object of cultural patrimony'' under Section 2 of the Act.

The 15 cultural items consist of five Apache gaan masks constructed of painted wood, cloth, and feathers; nine associated painted wood wands; and one associated bull roarer constructed of wood and leather.

Prior to 1935, Grenville Goodwin acquired these 15 cultural items on the San Carlos Apache Reservation. In 1935,

[Page 32683]these cultural items were purchased from Mr. Goodwin by the Laboratory of Anthropology, which became part of the Museum of New Mexico in 1947.

The cultural affiliation of these cultural items is clearly San Carlos Apache as indicated through donor information, museum records, and consultation with representatives of the San Carlos Apache Tribe of the San Carlos Reservation. Representatives of the San Carlos Apache Tribe of the San Carlos Reservation have further stated that these items have ongoing historical, traditional, and cultural importance central to the tribe itself, and no individual had or has the right to alienate them.

Officials of the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture/Laboratory of Anthropology, Museum of New Mexico have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(4), these 15 cultural items have ongoing historical, traditional, and cultural importance central to the tribe itself, and could not have been alienated, appropriated, or conveyed by any individual. Officials of the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture/ Laboratory of Anthropology, Museum of New Mexico have also determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (e), there is a relationship of shared group identity which can be reasonably traced between these items and the San Carlos Apache Tribe of the San Carlos Reservation.

This notice has been sent to officials of the San Carlos Apache Tribe of the San Carlos Reservation, the White Mountain Apache Tribe of the Fort Apache Reservation, the Tonto Apache Tribe of Arizona, the Yavapai-Apache Nation of the Camp Verde Reservation, the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma, and the Fort McDowell Mohave-Apache Indian Community of the Fort McDowell Indian Reservation. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these objects should contact Patricia House, Director, Museum of Indian Arts and Culture/Laboratory of Anthropology, Museum of New Mexico, P.O. Box 2087, Santa Fe, NM 87504-2087; telephone: (505) 827-6344 before July 15, 1998. Repatriation of these objects to the San Carlos Apache Tribe of the San Carlos Reservation may begin after that date if no additional claimants come forward. Dated: June 8, 1998. Francis P. McManamon, Departmental Consulting Archeologist, Manager, Archeology and Ethnography Program.

FR Doc. 98-15820Filed6-12-98; 8:45 amBILLING CODE 4310-70-F