Notice2021-18270
Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa, OK
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
August 25, 2021
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
The Gilcrease 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 Gilcrease 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.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 162 (Wednesday, August 25, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 162 (Wednesday, August 25, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47519-47521]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18270]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0032453; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Gilcrease Museum,
Tulsa, OK
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Gilcrease 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
[[Page 47520]]
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 Gilcrease 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 Gilcrease Museum at the
address in this notice by September 24, 2021.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Bryant, Gilcrease Museum, 1400 N
Gilcrease Museum Road, Tulsa, OK 74127, telephone (918) 596-2747, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#533f322621327e31212a323d27132627263f20327d363726"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bfd3decacdde92ddcdc6ded1cbffcacbcad3ccde91dadbca">[email protected]</span></a>.
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 Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa, OK, 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 Items
In the late 19th or early 20th century, 18 cultural items were
removed from Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe communities. Thomas Gilcrease
likely acquired these items as part of a larger collection in the mid-
1900s, though the exact details are unknown. Thomas Gilcrease
transferred his collection to the City of Tulsa in 1955. The one object
of cultural patrimony is a birch bark basket (accession number 71.454).
The 17 sacred objects and objects of cultural patrimony are one loom
beaded sash (84.1868), one sweet grass basket (71.226), and 15
bandolier bags (84.1721, 84.1729a-b, 84.1707, 84.1719a-b, 84.1720a-b,
84.1715a-b, 84.1708, 84.1717, 84.1711, 84.1714a-b, 84.1724a-b,
84.1706a-b, 84.1716a-b, 84.1710, and 84.1727a-b).
All these items are identified as Ojibwe in the Gilcrease Museum's
records, and their cultural affiliation was confirmed during
consultations with the Bois Forte Band (Nett Lake) and the Mille Lacs
Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota. The birch bark basket
is a communally owned ceremonial object that could not be separated by
an individual from the community. The beaded sash and basket are
communally owned, are still used in ceremonies today, and have on-going
historical, traditional, and cultural importance to the Ojibwe.
Likewise, bandolier bags are owned by the community, are still used in
traditional ceremonies today, and have on-going historical,
traditional, and cultural importance to the Ojibwe.
Circa 1905, two cultural items were removed from a Mille Lacs Band
of Ojibwe community in the Minneapolis, MN, by Mervin T. Miller. His
son, Gordon Miller, inherited his father's collection and donated it to
the Gilcrease Museum in 1972. The two sacred objects and objects of
cultural patrimony are one pair of moccasins (84.2186a-b) and one
beaded bag (84.2188).
Both items are identified as Ojibwe in the Gilcrease's records. As
they were collected from Minneapolis, more likely than not, they are
affiliated with the Mille Lacs Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe,
Minnesota. During consultation, the moccasins and beaded bag were
determined to be communally owned, can be used in a traditional
ceremony or dance today, and have on-going historical, traditional, or
cultural importance to the Ojibwe.
Circa 1900, one cultural item was removed from an Ojibwe community.
Emil Lenders, a painter and collector, traveled throughout the Plains
around the turn of the century, at which time he acquired the item. In
1950, Thomas Gilcrease purchased Lenders' collection, including this
item. Gilcrease transferred his collection to the City of Tulsa in
1955. The one sacred object and object of cultural patrimony is a pair
of beaded cuffs (84.1847a-b).
These beaded cuffs are identified as possibly Chippewa (Ojibwe) in
the Gilcrease's records, and their Ojibwe affiliation was confirmed
during consultation. Beaded garters are communally owned, are still
used in a traditional ceremony today, and have on-going historical,
traditional, or cultural importance to the Ojibwe.
On an unknown date, one cultural item was removed from a Mille Lacs
Band of Ojibwe community. It was purchased in a Warehouse Auction by
John and Ruthene Alexander, who donated by them to the Gilcrease Museum
in 2006. The one sacred object and object of cultural patrimony is a
beaded bandolier bag (84.3295).
This bandolier bag is identified as Ojibwe in the Gilcrease's
records, and their Ojibwe affiliation was confirmed during
consultation. Bandolier bags are communally owned, are still used in
traditional ceremonies today, and have on-going historical,
traditional, or cultural importance to the Ojibwe.
In the early 1900s, one cultural item was removed from a Mille Lacs
Band of Ojibwe community by Frank Engles, a collector. In 1950, Thomas
Gilcrease purchased Frank Engles' collection, including this item.
Gilcrease transferred his collection to the City of Tulsa in 1955. The
one object of cultural patrimony is a war club with an attached scalp
lock (73.247).
Frank Engles made a note that read, ``The scalp is affiliated with
the Ojebway [sic] tribe; however, the club belongs to the Chippeway
[sic] of Minninsota [sic].'' Through consultation with Minnesota Ojibwe
tribes, this item has been affiliated with the Mille Lacs Band of the
Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota. The war club is communally owned
and has on-going historical, traditional, and cultural importance to
the Ojibwe.
Determinations Made by the Gilcrease Museum
Officials of the Gilcrease Museum have determined that:
<bullet> Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), 21 of the 23 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.
<bullet> Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(D), all 23 cultural items
described above have ongoing historical, traditional, or cultural
importance central to the Native American group or culture itself,
rather than property owned by an individual.
<bullet> 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 Minnesota Chippewa
Tribe, Minnesota (Mille Lacs Band).
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
[[Page 47521]]
information in support of the claim to Laura Bryant, Gilcrease Museum,
1400 N Gilcrease Museum Road, Tulsa, OK 74127, telephone (918) 596-
2747, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9df1fce8effcb0ffefe4fcf3e9dde8e9e8f1eefcb3f8f9e8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="caa6abbfb8abe7a8b8b3aba4be8abfbebfa6b9abe4afaebf">[email protected]</span></a>, by September 24, 2021. After that
date, if no additional claimants have come forward, transfer of control
of the sacred objects and/or objects of cultural patrimony to the
Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota (Mille Lacs Band) may proceed.
The Gilcrease Museum is responsible for notifying the Minnesota
Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota (Mille Lacs Band) that this notice has been
published.
Dated: August 11, 2021.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2021-18270 Filed 8-24-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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