Notice2022-12110
Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Tennessee Valley Authority, Knoxville, TN
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
June 6, 2022
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), 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 TVA. 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 87 Issue 108 (Monday, June 6, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 108 (Monday, June 6, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34290-34291]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-12110]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0033984; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Tennessee Valley
Authority, Knoxville, TN
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), 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 TVA. 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 TVA at the address in this
notice by July 6, 2022.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Marianne Shuler, Tennessee Valley
Authority, 400 West Summit Hill Drive, WT11C, Knoxville, TN 37902-1401,
telephone (865) 253-1265, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#dcb1b1afb4a9b0b9ae9ca8aabdf2bbb3aa"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f29f9f819a879e9780b2868493dc959d84">[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 Tennessee Valley Authority, Knoxville, TN, that 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 Items
Between 1989 and November of 1990, cultural items were removed from
Dust Cave, site 1LU496, in Lauderdale County, AL. Dust Cave is situated
on a bluff adjacent to the right descending bank of the Tennessee River
inside TVA's Pickwick Reservoir. The cave was recorded in the 1980s by
Richard Cobb following exploration by local speleologists. A subsequent
evaluation of caves adjacent to Pickwick Reservoir verified that Dust
Cave had a human habitation of considerable antiquity. Dust Cave was
the focus of excavations by the University of Alabama from 1989 to
2002. The two sacred objects are one lot of dog remains and one lot of
lithics.
Based on oral traditional information provided during consultation
with The Chickasaw Nation about the role of the white dog Ofi' Tohbi
Ishto' in the Chickasaw Migration story and the need of The Chickasaw
Nation to venerate these animals alongside ancestral remains in current
day reburial practices, TVA has determined that the dog remains and the
lithics are sacred objects.
Determinations Made by the Tennessee Valley Authority
Officials of the Tennessee Valley Authority have determined that:
<bullet> Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), the two 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(2), there is a relationship of
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the sacred
objects and the Cherokee Nation; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and
The Chickasaw Nation (hereafter referred to as ``The Tribes'').
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 Ms. Marianne Shuler, Tennessee Valley
Authority, 400 West Summit Hill Drive, WT11C, Knoxville, TN 37902-1401,
telephone (865) 253-1265, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#751818061d00191007350103145b121a03"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="610c0c1209140d0413211517004f060e17">[email protected]</span></a>, by July 6, 2022.
[[Page 34291]]
After that date, if no additional claimants have come forward, transfer
of control of the sacred objects to The Tribes may proceed.
The Tennessee Valley Authority is responsible for notifying The
Tribes that this notice has been published.
Dated: May 25, 2022.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2022-12110 Filed 6-3-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
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