[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 76 (Thursday, April 19, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23500-23501]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-9437]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[2253-665]


Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Milwaukee Public 
Museum, Milwaukee, WI

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Milwaukee Public Museum, in consultation with the 
appropriate Indian tribe, has determined that the cultural items meet 
the definition of sacred objects 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 Milwaukee 
Public Museum.

DATES: Representatives of any Indian tribe that believes it has a 
cultural affiliation with the cultural items should contact the 
Milwaukee Public Museum at the address below by May 21, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Dawn Scher Thomae, Milwaukee Public Museum, 800 W. Wells 
Street, Milwaukee, WI 53233, telephone (414) 278-6157.

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 Milwaukee Public Museum that meet the definition of 
sacred object 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

    The five cultural items are a water drum, a fastening ring, a 
drumstick, a drum head and a flour sack (accessions E65165a-e/27301) 
collected by anthropologist James Howard. After his death, private 
donors raised money to purchase his collection for the Milwaukee Public 
Museum, and the collection came to the museum in December 1985. 
Documentation from the James Howard collection states that these items 
are ``from the Turtle Mountain band of Plains-Ojibwa.'' The 
documentation indicates the items were given to James Howard by Joseph 
Greatwalker, in Rolla, ND, on December 25, 1960. The items were used in 
the Midewiwin ceremonies of the Turtle Mountain Band of Plains-Ojibwa, 
and based on the workmanship of the drum, the objects date to before 
1950. The last Midewiwin rites were held in 1952 or 1953.
    Review of extant documentation, including the museum catalog book, 
catalog cards and documentation files indicate that these objects are 
in the possession and control of the Milwaukee Public Museum, and no 
restrictions of title apply to the disposition of these materials. 
These items are affiliated with the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa 
Indians of North Dakota. Based on documentation, the objects were 
acquired from a tribal member in Rolla, ND, an area long associated 
with this tribe. The objects meet the definition sacred object based on 
the documented use of these objects during the Midewiwin ceremonies.

Determinations Made by the Milwaukee Public Museum

    Officials of the Milwaukee Public Museum have determined that:
    <bullet> Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C), the five cultural items 
described in this notice 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(2), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the sacred 
objects and the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians of North 
Dakota.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the sacred objects should contact Dawn 
Scher Thomae, Milwaukee Public Museum, 800 W. Wells Street, Milwaukee, 
WI 53233, telephone (414) 278-6157, before May 21, 2012. Repatriation 
of the sacred objects to the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians 
of North Dakota may proceed after that date if no additional claimants 
come forward.
    The Milwaukee Public Museum is responsible for notifying the Turtle

[[Page 23501]]

Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians of North Dakota that this notice has 
been published.

    Dated: April 12, 2012.
David Tarler,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2012-9437 Filed 4-18-12; 8:45 am]
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