19698 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 63 / Monday, April 2, 2012 / Notices 

took place in the year or years 

immediately following the field school. 

The items removed from site LA 46316 

include 90 sacred objects commonly 

called prayer sticks, materials for 

making prayer sticks, decomposed 

prayer sticks, and six lots of loose 

feathers, at least some of which were a 

part of prayer sticks. 

The collection was transferred to the 

Maxwell Museum of Anthropology. Due 

to poor documentation and analysis, the 

full extent and nature of the collection 

emerged only recently, as analysts began 

detailed studies of the cultural objects. 

To date, the UMN collection from site 

LA 46316 includes the sacred objects 

detailed above as well as other cultural 

items and two partial sets of human 

remains, which require additional 

consultation and analysis before 

determinations can be made. 

Based on radiocarbon dating, site LA 

46316 was first used around B.C. 1400, 

and remained in use for centuries. The 

site is an ecumenical shrine, containing 

a travertine dome with dry deposits. 

The first documented excavation of the 

site occurred in 1917 by Elsie Clews 

Parsons, who reported even earlier 

activities on the site by ‘‘treasure 

seekers.’’ Parsons described the shrine 

as a Laguna shrine, but stated that the 

site was used by visitors from ‘‘Acoma, 

Zuni, and other towns.’’ At the time of 

the UNM field school in 1949, the site 

was on privately owned land, but more 

recently, the land area was purchased 

by the Pueblo of Laguna. Today, the 

Pueblo of Laguna continues to use the 

site and considers itself the custodian of 

the shrine. During a 2011 inspection of 

the sacred objects, delegates from the 

Pueblo of Laguna confirmed the 

presence of Laguna and Acoma sacred 

objects in the collection and indicated 

that other sacred objects may be related 

to the Zuni and Hopi tribes. The sacred 

objects in this notice are reasonably 

believed to be affiliated with the Pueblo 

of Laguna as well as other Pueblo 

Indians (including, but not limited to, 

the Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Pueblo of 

Acoma, New Mexico; and the Zuni 

Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New 

Mexico). 

In response to consultations with 

Indian tribes (including in a letter from 

the Governor of the Pueblo of Laguna, 

representing the Pueblo in its role as 

land owner and custodian of the shrine), 

the staff of the Maxwell Museum will 

rebury the ‘‘prayer sticks,’’ ‘‘prayer stick 

materials,’’ and loose feathers from site 

LA 46316. The Pueblo of Laguna has 

agreed to provide access to the shrine 

and to supervise the return of the sacred 

objects. 

Determinations Made by the Maxwell 

Museum of Anthropology 

Officials of the Maxwell Museum of 

Anthropology have determined that: 

• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), 

the 96 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. 

• Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there 

is a relationship of shared group 

identity that can be reasonably traced 

between the sacred objects and the Hopi 

Tribe of Arizona; Pueblo of Acoma, New 

Mexico; Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico; 

and the Zuni Tribe of the Zuni 

Reservation, New Mexico. 

Additional Requestors and Disposition 

Representatives of any other Indian 

tribe that believes itself to be culturally 

affiliated with the sacred objects should 

contact David Phillips, Curator of 

Archaeology, Maxwell Museum of 

Anthropology, MSC01 1050, University 

of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 

87131, telephone (505) 277–9229, before 

May 2, 2012. Repatriation of the sacred 

objects to the Pueblo of Laguna, New 

Mexico, may proceed after that date if 

no additional claimants come forward. 

The Maxwell Museum of 

Anthropology is responsible for 

notifying the Hopi Tribe of Arizona; 

Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico; Pueblo 

of Laguna, New Mexico; and the Zuni 

Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New 

Mexico that this notice has been 

published. 

Dated: March 28, 2012 

Sherry Hutt, 

Manager, National NAGPRA Program. 

[FR Doc. 2012–7884 Filed 3–30–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4312–50–P 

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. 

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 

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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 63 / Monday, April 2, 2012 / Notices 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 presentday 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: 

• 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. 

• 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 

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. 

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 

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