[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 195 (Tuesday, October 7, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58618-58619]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-23698]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items: Logan Museum of 
Anthropology, Beloit College, Beloit, WI

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 Logan Museum of 
Anthropology, Beloit College, Beloit, WI, that meet the definitions of 
``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.
    The cultural objects are one drum, four drum legs, and four drum 
sticks. All are catalogued within the Logan Museum's catalogue number 
30058.
    The drum measures 35 cm high by 62 cm in diameter. It is made of a 
wooden washtub covered on the top and bottom with painted hide 
drumheads. The top drumhead exhibits a red line and yellow stripe 
across the center, and half the drumhead is painted green. The paint on 
the top drumhead is heavily faded. The bottom drumhead is mostly 
unpainted on the exterior, but the interior is painted green with a red 
line across the center. The interior paint and a series of perforations 
along the side of the bottom drumhead indicate it once served as a top 
drumhead. A cloth strip with glass-beaded floral designs and four 
glass-beaded tabs with floral

[[Page 58619]]

designs and brass tinklers are attached to the outside of the drum, 
near the top. Four leather straps are attached to the outside of the 
drum, one for each of the four drum legs. Each leg is made of wood 
wrapped in black cotton and blue cloth. Three of the drum sticks are 
long and slender with narrow heads of blue denim wrapped in cotton 
thread. The fourth stick is shorter, and has a round stuffed buckskin 
head.
    In 1955, the Logan Museum acquired the drum, legs, and sticks when 
it purchased the collection of Albert Green Heath. Associated 
collection records contain Heath's following statement on the cultural 
items: ``Large Pow wow (tribal drum) complete with 4 Drum sticks & 4 
stakes. White Earth Band of Chippewas. Minn., Extremely Rare.'' 
Collection records contain no additional information about the objects. 
Based on general information about his collecting history, Heath most 
likely acquired the drum, legs, and sticks at the White Earth 
Reservation in Minnesota in the early 20th century.
    On the basis of Heath's attribution of the objects to the White 
Earth Band of Chippewas, officials of the Logan Museum of Anthropology 
consulted with representatives of the White Earth Band of the Minnesota 
Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota. During consultation, tribal representatives 
indicated that the drum and its associated legs and sticks are central 
to the Big Drum Society Ceremony, and are considered sacred objects 
that are needed by the Ceremony's practitioners. The drums are not 
owned by individuals but by Drum Societies, which are responsible for 
caring for the objects used in the Ceremony and thus, individuals do 
not have the right to alienate a Big Drum. The White Earth Band was one 
of the earliest of the Ojibwe (Chippewa) groups to adopt the Big Drum 
Society Ceremony in the 19th century, and the Ceremony has ongoing 
historical, traditional, and cultural importance to the tribe.
    Officials of the Logan Museum of Anthropology have determined that, 
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(C), the nine 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. Officials of the 
Logan Museum of Anthropology have also determined that, pursuant to 25 
U.S.C. 3001 (3)(D), the nine 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. Lastly, officials of the Logan Museum of Anthropology 
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 sacred objects/objects of cultural patrimony and the White 
Earth Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota.
    Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to 
be culturally affiliated with the sacred objects/objects of cultural 
patrimony should contact William Green, Director, Logan Museum of 
Anthropology, Beloit College, 700 College St., Beloit, WI 53511, 
telephone (608) 363-2119, before November 6, 2008. Repatriation of the 
sacred objects/objects of cultural patrimony to the White Earth Band of 
the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota may proceed after that date if 
no additional claimants come forward.
    The Logan Museum of Anthropology is responsible for notifying the 
White Earth Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Minnesota that this 
notice has been published.

    Dated: September 10,2008
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E8-23698 Filed 10-6-08; 8:45 am]
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