Notice2025-01181

Notice of Intended Repatriation: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg, 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
January 17, 2025

Issuing agencies

Interior DepartmentNational Park Service

Abstract

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Great Smoky Mountain National Park (GRSM) intends to repatriate a certain cultural item that meets the definition of a sacred object and that has a known lineal descendant.

Full Text

<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 11 (Friday, January 17, 2025)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 11 (Friday, January 17, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5994-5995]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-01181]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0039344; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intended Repatriation: U.S. Department of the Interior, 
National Park Service, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg, 
TN

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and 
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, 
National Park Service, Great Smoky Mountain National Park (GRSM) 
intends to repatriate a certain cultural item that meets the definition 
of a sacred object and that has a known lineal descendant.

DATES: Repatriation of the cultural item in this notice may occur on or 
after February 18, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Cassius Cash, Superintendent, Great Smoky Mountains National 
Park, 107 Park Headquarters Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738, telephone (865) 
8436-1200, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#593a382a2a302c2a063a382a311937292a773e362f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="dbb8baa8a8b2aea884b8baa8b39bb5aba8f5bcb4ad">[email&#160;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 
Superintendent, GRSM, and additional information on the determinations 
in this notice, including the results of consultation, can be found in 
the summary or related records.

Abstract of Information Available

    A total of one cultural item has been requested for repatriation. 
The one sacred item is a stone pipe. The stone pipe was reported to 
have been given to Colonel William Holland Thomas by Yonaguska. In 
1937, it was donated to GRSM by Colonel Thomas' daughter-in-law, Mrs. 
James R. Thomas. Yonaguska was a known Cherokee leader in the early 
19th century. No hazardous substances are known to have been used to 
treat the cultural item.

Determinations

    GRSM has determined that:
    <bullet> The one sacred object described in this notice is a 
specific ceremonial object needed by a traditional Native American 
religious leader for present-day adherents to practice traditional 
Native American religion, according to the Native American traditional 
knowledge of a lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian 
organization.
    <bullet> A known lineal descendant (name withheld per request) is 
connected to the cultural item described in this notice.

Requests for Repatriation

    Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural item 
in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified 
in this notice under 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 item in this notice to a requestor may 
occur on or after February 18, 2025. If competing requests for 
repatriation are received, GRSM must determine the most appropriate 
requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the 
cultural item are considered a single request and not competing 
requests. GRSM is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the 
Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this 
notice and to any other consulting parties.
    Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 
25 U.S.C. 3004 and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9.


[[Page 5995]]


    Dated: January 13, 2025.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2025-01181 Filed 1-16-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P


</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>
Indexed from Federal Register on January 17, 2025.

This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.