[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 45 (Wednesday, March 7, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13623-13624]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-5570]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[2253-665]

National Park Service


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, Lakewood, CO

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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[[Page 13624]]

SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, 
in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes, has determined that 
the cultural items listed below meet the definition of sacred objects 
and/or objects of cultural patrimony and repatriation to the Indian 
tribes stated below may occur if no additional claimants come forward. 
Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with the cultural items may contact the U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement.

DATES: Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes it has a 
cultural affiliation with the cultural items should contact the U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, at the address 
below by April 6, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
Office of Law Enforcement, 134 Union Blvd., Room 550, Lakewood, CO 
80228, telephone (303) 236-7540.

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 eight cultural items in the 
possession of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law 
Enforcement, that meet the definition of sacred objects and/or 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 U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement. The National Park 
Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.

History and Description of the Cultural Items

    These items came into the possession and control of the U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Office of Law Enforcement, pursuant to a 
criminal investigation. The items were forfeited to the U.S. Government 
by the U.S. Customs Service in separate forfeiture actions in January, 
February and March 2001. These items were transferred to the USFWS on 
August 21, 2001, and the Federal criminal investigations are now 
complete.
    USFWS contracted with expert consultants to review the collection 
and consulted with 11 tribes having interest or affiliation in the 
objects. Three tribes filed claims requesting repatriation of objects 
from the collection. Upon review, the USFWS determined that three 
objects of cultural patrimony and five sacred objects are subject to 
repatriation to the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck 
Indian Reservation, Montana. The five sacred objects include Items 42 
and 43: two rattles, Item 26: Imosna, deer dew claws (Bandoleer), and 
Items 5 and 70: two splithorn headdresses, one with a trailer. The 
three objects of cultural patrimony include Item 11: notched warrior's 
dance whip or wand, Item 18: Napeshi spear or dance spear, and Item 41: 
notched warrior's dance whip or quirt. Items 5 and 70 (splithorn 
headdresses) are both sacred objects and objects of cultural patrimony.

Determinations Made by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of 
Law Enforcement

    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the USFWS 
have determined that:
    <bullet> Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), three of the 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), three of the 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(3)(C) and 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(D), 
two of the 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, and 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 eight 
cultural objects and the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck 
Indian Reservation, Montana.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with these sacred objects and/or objects of 
cultural patrimony should contact the Special Agent in Charge, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, 134 Union Blvd., 
Room 550, Lakewood, CO 80228, telephone (303) 236-7540, April 6, 2012. 
Repatriation of the sacred objects and/or objects of cultural patrimony 
to the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian 
Reservation, Montana may proceed after that date if no additional 
claimants come forward.
    The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, 
Lakewood, CO, is responsible for notifying the Assiniboine and Sioux 
Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Montana that this notice 
has been published.

    Dated: March 2, 2012.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2012-5570 Filed 3-6-12; 8:45 am]
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