Notice2023-12283
Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Denver, CO
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 8, 2023
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNational Park Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Denver Museum of Nature & Science intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet both the definition of sacred objects and the definition of objects of cultural patrimony, and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice. The cultural items were removed from the State of New York and Canada.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 110 (Thursday, June 8, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 110 (Thursday, June 8, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37573-37574]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-12283]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0035978; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]
Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Denver Museum of
Nature & Science. Denver, CO
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Denver Museum of Nature & Science
intends to repatriate certain cultural items that meet both the
definition of sacred objects and the definition of objects of cultural
patrimony, and that have a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes
or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice. The cultural items
were removed from the State of New York and Canada.
DATES: Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice may occur on
or after July 10, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Chris Patrello, Curator of Anthropology, Denver Museum of
Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver CO 80205, telephone (303)
370-6378, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#fe9d968c978dd08e9f8a8c9b929291be9a93908dd0918c99"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ccafa4bea5bfe2bcadb8bea9a0a0a38ca8a1a2bfe2a3beab">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is published as part of the
National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA.
The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the
Denver Museum of Nature & Science. The National Park Service is not
responsible for the determinations in this notice. Additional
information on the determinations in this notice, including the results
of consultation, can be found in the summary or related records held by
the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Description
The 83 cultural items listed in this notice were removed from
several locations in the State of New York and Ontario, Canada,
beginning in 1965. Of this number, 79 cultural items were purchased by
collectors Mary and Francis Crane, who donated their collection to the
Denver Museum of Nature & Science (then the Denver Museum of Natural
History) between 1968 and 1983. In 1965, the Cranes purchased from
Gerald Fenstermaker eight Medicine Faces (AC.8544, AC.9717, AC.9722,
AC.9724, AC.9727, AC.9728, AC.9729, AC.9742); two Corn Husk Faces
(AC.9709, AC.9711); two Husk Face Figurines comprising a set (AC.9825A-
B); three Medicine Face Figurines comprising a set (AC.9826A-C); nine
Medicine Face Figurines comprising a set (AC.8554A-I); and 10 Medicine
Face Figurines comprising a set (AC.11957A-J). These cultural items had
been removed from various locations in the State of New York and
Ontario, Canada. Between 1965 and 1967, the Cranes purchased from
Howard B. Roloff three Corn Husk Faces (AC.8341, AC.8381 AC.9714); 25
Medicine Faces (AC.8375, AC.8379, AC.8390, AC.8391, AC.8444, AC.10284,
AC.10285, AC.10319, AC.10330, AC.10333A-K, AC.8406A-E); 12 Medicine
Face Figurines comprising a set (AC.8285A-L); and four Medicine Face
Figurines comprising a set (AC.10328). These cultural items had been
acquired from the Six Nations of the Grand River Reserve in Ontario,
Canada. In 1969, the Cranes purchased a figurine wearing a Medicine
Face from the Las Novedades Gallery in Taos, NM (AC.7684). The figurine
is identified as Haudenosaunee.
In 1990, one Medicine Face (A1648.1) was transferred from the
Museum's Education Collection to its Anthropology Collection. In 1999,
during a NAGPRA consultation, representatives of the Haudenosaunee
Confederacy suggested that this cultural item is a copy of an older
mask made by Elon Webster, an Onondaga carver from the Tonawanda
Reservation in New York.
In 1989, the Museum purchased three cultural items from William H.
Hensler of Aurora, CO. Hensler had acquired these items from Iroqrafts,
an arts and crafts store located on the Six Nations of the Grand River
Reserve in Canada. The items are three Medicine Faces (A1633.1,
A1633.2, and A1633.3). Museum records indicate that A1633.1 and A1633.2
were made by ``He Keeps Ice'' and are affiliated with the Cayuga Wolf
clan, and that A1633.3 was made by ``Across the River'' and is
affiliated with the Mohawk Turtle Clan.
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science acknowledges that the
Haudenosaunee Confederacy predates the establishment of the
geopolitical borders that separate its territories. Haudenosaunee
communities maintain unbroken political, cultural, spiritual, and
economic ties to their lands. The cultural items listed in this notice
belong to the Confederacy, and as Keepers of the Central Fire of the
Haudenosaunee, the Onondaga Nation is responsible for their care and
protection. In a letter dated Feb. 21, 2022, Christine G. Abrams,
Acting Chair of the Haudenosaunee Standing Committee on Burial Rules
and
[[Page 37574]]
Regulations, informed the Museum that the Standing Committee had
approved the Onondaga Nation's request to repatriate Medicine Faces,
Corn Husk Faces, and figurines wearing Medicine Faces or Corn Husk
Faces designated as ``Haudenosaunee,'' ``Iroquois,'' and ``Grand
River,'' as well as those with multiple affiliations.
Cultural Affiliation
The cultural items in this notice are connected to one or more
identifiable earlier groups, tribes, peoples, or cultures. There is a
relationship of shared group identity between the identifiable earlier
groups, tribes, peoples, or cultures and one or more Indian Tribes or
Native Hawaiian organizations. The following types of information were
used to reasonably trace the relationship: anthropological, folkloric,
geographical, historical, oral traditional, other relevant information,
and expert opinion.
Determinations
Pursuant to NAGPRA and its implementing regulations, and after
consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian
organizations, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science has determined
that:
<bullet> The 83 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> The 83 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> There is a relationship of shared group identity that can
be reasonably traced between the cultural items and the Onondaga
Nation.
Requests for Repatriation
Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items
in this notice must be sent to the Responsible Official identified in
ADDRESSES. Requests for repatriation may be submitted by any lineal
descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not
identified in this notice who shows, by a preponderance of the
evidence, that the requestor is a lineal descendant or a culturally
affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization.
Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to a requestor
may occur on or after July 10, 2023. If competing requests for
repatriation are received, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science must
determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation.
Requests for joint repatriation of the cultural items are considered a
single request and not competing requests. The Denver Museum of Nature
& Science is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the
Indian Tribe identified in this notice.
Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act,
25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.8, 10.10,
and 10.14.
Dated: May 31, 2023.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2023-12283 Filed 6-7-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
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