Native American human remains and associated funerary objects: Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, Honolulu, HI— Field Museum of Natural History, IL; caribou skin robe,

[Federal Register: October 28, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 208)]

[Notices]

[Page 57706]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr28oc98-102]

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

Notice of Intent to Repatriate a Cultural Item in the Possession of the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL

AGENCY: National Park Service, DOI.

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 a cultural item in the possession of the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL which meets the definition of ``unassociated funerary object'' under Section 2 of the Act.

The cultural item consists of a caribou skin robe (catalog number 78303; accession number 807) painted in red and black with designs representing a split figure of a whale on one side and a ``devil fish'' on the other.

In 1902, this robe was purchased by the Field Museum from Lt. G.T. Emmons as part of a larger collection of Northwest Coast objects. According to Lt. Emmons' field notes, this is a Tlingit shaman's robe and was collected in the second half of the 19th century from the ``Hootz-ar-tar'' tribe.

The form of this object, its source, and the documentation concerning its acquisition lead the Field Museum to blieve that it is a shaman's robe of the Hutsnuwu, or Kootznoowoo Tlingit. Representatives of Kootznoowoo, Inc. Have verified this identification, and have further indicated that this object is reasonably believed to have been removed from a specific burial site of a Kootznoowoo individual.

Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the Field Museum of Natural History have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(2)(ii), this cultural item is reasonably believed to have been placed with or near individual human remains at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony and are believed, by a preponderance of the evidence, to have been removed from a specific burial site of an Native American individual. Officials of the Field Museum of Natural History 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 this item and Kootznoowoo, Inc.

Although officials of the Field Museum recognize the importance of these cultural items to Kootznoowoo Inc., the Field Museum asserts that it has right of possession of these cultural items. However, the Field Museum is willing to return the object under a compromise repatriation claim.

This notice has been sent to officials of Kootznoowoo, Inc. Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with this objects should contact Jonathan Haas, MacArthur Curator of North American Anthropology, Field Museum of Natural History, Roosevelt Road at Lake Shore Dr., Chicago, IL 60605; telephone: (312) 922-9410, ext. 641 before November 27, 1998. Repatriation of this object to Kootznoowoo, Inc. may begin after that date if no additional claimants come forward.

The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations within this notice.

Dated: October 6, 1998. Francis P. McManamon, Departmental Consulting Archeologist, Manager, Archeology and Ethnography Program.

[FR Doc. 98-28806Filed10-27-98; 8:45 am]

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