[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 79 (Monday, April 24, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 21787]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-10055]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items from Southeastern 
Utah in the Possession of the Utah Museum of Natural History, Salt Lake 
City, UT

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice

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    Notice is hereby given under the Native American Graves Protection 
and Repatriation Act, 43 CFR 10.10 (a)(3), of the intent to repatriate 
cultural items in the possession of the Utah Museum of Natural History, 
Salt Lake City, UT which meet the definition of ``sacred object'' and 
``object of cultural patrimony'' under Section 2 of the Act.
    The 16 cultural items consist of ceremonial feathers, a ceremonial 
bundle, a quartzite stone implement, a medicine bag of ferret skin, a 
buckskin bag, a corn meal bag, reed offering sticks, worked willow, and 
painting sticks.
    During the 1920s and 1930s, these cultural items were collected by 
A.E. Bruerton; and he donated these cultural items to the University of 
Utah Anthropology Department at a later unknown date. In 1969, these 
objects were transferred to the Utah Museum of Natural History from the 
University of Utah Anthropology Department.
    Museum documentation indicates these cultural items were recovered 
from a buried location in a Navajo hogan in southeastern Utah. The 
location, form, and style of the cultural items are all consistent with 
Navajo history, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the Utah 
Museum of Natural History have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 
(d)(3), these 16 cultural items are specific ceremonial objects needed 
by traditional Native American religious leaders for the practice of 
traditional Native American religions by their present-day adherents. 
Officials of the Utah Museum of Natural History have determined that, 
pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (d)(4), these 16 cultural items have ongoing 
historical, traditional, and cultural importance central to the tribe 
itself, and could not have been alienated, appropriated, or conveyed by 
any individual. Officials of the Utah 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 these items and the Navajo Nation.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Navajo Nation. 
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with these objects should contact Duncan 
Metcalfe, curator of Archaeological Collections, Utah Museum of Natural 
History, 1390 E. President's Circle, Salt Lake City, UT 84112; 
telephone: (801) 581-3876 before May 24, 2000. Repatriation of these 
objects to the Navajo Nation 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: April 11, 2000.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Manager, Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 00-10055 Filed 4-21-00; 8:45 am]
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