[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 169 (Friday, August 29, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 50989]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-20103]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items: New York State 
Museum, Albany, NY

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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    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 in the possession of the New York State 
Museum, Albany, NY, that meet the definition of ``unassociated funerary 
objects'' 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.
    The two cultural items are one small copper kettle and one silver 
wristband. The silver wristband bears the maker's mark ``IS.''
    In 1956, the New York State Museum purchased the kettle and 
wristband from the Logan Museum of Anthropology, Beloit College, WI. 
The cultural items were part of a larger collection made by Albert 
Green Heath who acquired the kettle and wristband from an individual 
named Lowell Lamkin between 1910 and 1916.
    The Heath collection records indicate the kettle and wristband were 
found in a grave or graves in ``Emmet County, Michigan.'' The New York 
State Museum is not in possession of the human remains associated with 
the items. Therefore, based on museum records, the kettle and wristband 
are reasonably believed to be unassociated funerary objects. The style 
of the kettle and wristband date to the post-Contact period and are 
typical of metal trade items from the mid to late 18th century. Heath 
collection records identify the tribal identification of the items as 
Ottawa. Historical and traditional evidence indicates Ottawa people 
occupied Emmet County throughout the 18th century. The Ottawa people 
are also called Odawa. Descendants of the Odawa in Emmet County are 
members of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, 
Michigan, and Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan.
    Officials of the New York State Museum have determined that, 
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(B), the two cultural items described 
above are reasonably believed to have been placed with or near 
individual human remains at the time of death or later as part of the 
death rite or ceremony and are believed, by a preponderance of the 
evidence, to have been removed from a specific burial site of a Native 
American individual. Officials of the New York State Museum also have 
determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (2), there is a 
relationship of shared group identity that can be reasonably traced 
between the unassociated funerary objects and Grand Traverse Band of 
Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Michigan, and Little Traverse Bay Bands of 
Odawa Indians, Michigan.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the unassociated funerary objects should 
contact Lisa Anderson, NAGPRA Coordinator, New York State Museum, 3122 
Cultural Education Center, Albany, NY 12230, telephone (518) 486-2020, 
before September 29, 2008. Repatriation of the unassociated funerary 
objects to the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan, 
may proceed after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
    New York State Museum is responsible for notifying the Grand 
Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Michigan, and Little 
Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan that this notice has been 
published.

    Dated: August 4, 2008.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E8-20103 Filed 8-28-08; 8:45 am]
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