[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 63 (Monday, April 2, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19698-19699]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-7882]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[2253-665]


Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items: Rochester Museum & 
Science Center, Rochester, NY

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Rochester Museum & Science Center, in consultation with 
the appropriate Indian tribe, has determined that the cultural items 
meet the definition of both sacred objects and objects of cultural 
patrimony and repatriation to the Indian tribe 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 Rochester Museum & Science Center.

DATES: Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes it has a 
cultural affiliation with the cultural items should contact the 
Rochester Museum & Science Center at the address below by May 2, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Adele DeRosa, Rochester Museum & Science Center, 657 East 
Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607, telephone (585) 271-4552 x 302.

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 Rochester Museum & Science Center that meet the 
definition of both sacred objects and 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 
museum, institution or Federal agency that has control of the cultural 
items. The National Park Service is not responsible for the 
determinations in this notice.

History and Description of the Cultural Items

    Between 1923 and 1984, the Rochester Museum & Science Center 
acquired 36 medicine faces made by members of the Seneca Nation of New 
York from a variety of sources. All of these medicine faces are 
currently in the possession of the Rochester Museum & Science Center.
    In 1928, Alvin Dewey received from the Rev. John W. Sanborn 
collection two 19th century cornhusk medicine faces (29.259.36/AE 2914/
D 10626 and 29.259.77/AE 2914/D 10625). Rev. Sanborn was appointed 
missionary to the Seneca Indians at Gowanda in 1877 and was adopted 
into the wolf clan.
    In 1934, Arthur Parker acquired two 19th century cornhusk medicine 
faces (34.141.1/AE 2480 and 34.141.2/AE 2480) and one 19th century 
wooden medicine face (34.141.3/AE 2481) on the Cattaraugus Reservation.
    In 1924, E.D. Putnam purchased two 19th century wooden medicine 
faces (24.61.5/AE 0500 and 24.61.13/AE 0509) on the Allegany 
Reservation.
    In 1923, E.D. Putnam purchased two 19th century small wooden 
medicine faces (23.32.77/AE 363A and 23.32.40/AE 0366) and three 19th 
century large

[[Page 19699]]

wooden medicine faces (23.32.24/AE 0349; 23.32.45/AE 0371; and 23.47.1/
AE 0404) on the Cattaraugus Reservation.
    On August 18, 1923, E.D. Putnam purchased two 19th century cornhusk 
medicine faces (23.32.42/AE 0368 and 23.32.43/AE 0368) and one 19th 
century cornhusk medicine face for a leader's pole (23.32.37/AE 0363B) 
on the Cattaraugus Reservation.
    On August 18, 1923, E.D. Putnam purchased two 19th century cornhusk 
medicine faces (23.32.4/AE 0330 and 24.61.10/AE 0505) on the Allegany 
Reservation.
    In 1923, E.D. Putnam likely purchased one 19th century cornhusk 
medicine face (73.00.2.1) on either the Cattaraugus or Allegany 
Reservations.
    In 1926, E.J. Burke collected one 19th century cornhusk medicine 
face (26.26.2/AE 0769) from an unknown location.
    In 1925, Everett R. Burmaster collected two 19th century cornhusk 
medicine face (25.69.1/AE 0482A and 25.69.2/AE 0482B) and one 19th 
century wooden medicine face (25.69.1/AE 0309) on the Cattaraugus 
Reservation.
    In 1926, Everett R. Burmaster collected one 19th century wooden 
medicine face (26.63.1/AE 0010) on the Cattaraugus Reservation.
    In 1928, Everett R. Burmaster collected one partially carved 19th 
century medicine face on a tree trunk (28.92.1/AE 0130) on the 
Cattaraugus Reservation.
    In 1927, the Rochester Museum of Arts and Science (later the 
Rochester Museum & Science Center) purchased one 19th century wooden 
medicine face (27.81.463/AE 1171) from the Opdyke estate.
    In 1925, an unknown individual collected one 19th century wooden 
medicine face with two bundles (25.75.1/AE 0578) in New York State.
    In 1928, an unknown individual collected one late 19th century 
wooden medicine face (28.185.1/AE 1135) near Chautauqua Lake, NY.
    In 1926, Arthur Parker collected one 19th century cornhusk medicine 
face (26.70.1/AE 0762) from an unknown location.
    In 1931, an unknown individual collected one early 20th century 
wooden medicine face (31.147.1/AE 2276) on the Cattaraugus Reservation.
    In 1938, an unknown individual collected two early 20th century 
wooden medicine faces (38.367.2/AE 7238 and 38.367.1/AE 7238) on the 
Cattaraugus Reservation.
    In 1935, the Rochester Museum of Arts and Science (later the 
Rochester Museum & Science Center) received one small early 20th 
century wooden medicine face (35.252.1/AE 3623) made on the Cattaraugus 
Reservation and donated by an unknown individual.
    In 1984, the Rochester Museum & Science Center purchased one 20th 
century cornhusk medicine face (84.171.1) made on the Cattaraugus 
Reservation in 1980.
    In 1929, Albert Heath purchased one 19th century small wooden 
medicine face (29.273.1/AE 1690) from an unknown location.
    In 1923, an unknown individual purchased two early 20th century 
wooden medicine faces (23.47.2/AE 0405 and 23.47.3/AE 0406) at the 
Seneca Trading Post, in Collins, NY.
    Traditional religious leaders of the Seneca Nation of New York have 
identified these medicine faces as being needed for the practice of 
traditional Native American religions by present-day adherents. In the 
course of consultations with representatives of the Seneca Nation of 
New York, it was shown that individuals who carved these medicine faces 
did not have the authority to alienate them to a third party. Because 
the individuals who carved these faces did not have the authority to 
alienate them, a third party could not have been given any ownership or 
property rights over the medicine faces and therefore, could not have 
properly transferred them to the Rochester Museum & Science Center. 
Museum documentation, supported by oral evidence presented during 
consultation by Seneca Nation of New York representatives, indicates 
that these medicine faces are culturally affiliated with the Seneca 
Nation of New York. Museum representatives also consulted with other 
Haudenosaunee and non-Haudenosaunee consultants.

Determinations made by the Rochester Museum & Science Center

    Officials of the Rochester Museum & Science Center, Rochester have 
determined that:
    <bullet> Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(D), the 36 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 adherents, and have an 
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 these 
medicine faces and the Seneca Nation of New York.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Representatives of any other Indian Nation or tribe that believes 
itself to be culturally affiliated with these medicine faces should 
contact Adele DeRosa, Rochester Museum & Science Center, Rochester, NY 
14607, telephone (585) 271-4552 x 302, before May 2, 2012. Repatriation 
of these medicine faces to the Seneca Nation of New York may proceed 
after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
    The Rochester Museum & Science Center, Rochester, NY, is 
responsible for notifying the Seneca Nation of New York that this 
notice has been published.

    Dated: March 28, 2012.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2012-7882 Filed 3-30-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-P