[Federal Register: May 23, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 101)]
[Notices]
[Page 30159-30160]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23my08-107]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items: Seton Hall
University Museum, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ
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 Seton Hall
University Museum, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ, that meet
the definition 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 Seton Hall University Museum professional staff consulted with
representatives of the Onondaga Nation of New York and Tuscarora Nation
of New York. Requests for consultation were sent to the Cayuga Nation
of New York; Oneida Nation of New York; Oneida Tribe of Indians of
Wisconsin; Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, New York (formerly the St. Regis
Band of Mohawk Indians of New York); Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma;
Tonawanda Band of Seneca Indians of New York; and Haudenosaunee
Standing Committee on Burial Rules and Regulations, non-federally
recognized Indian organization representing Indian Nation members of
the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, but they did not participate in
consultations.
The two cultural items are False Face masks or medicine faces. The
first mask was obtained from the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario by Mr.
Samuel Tarrant of Newark, NJ (catalog number 2349). It is not known
when or how Mr. Tarrant obtained it. The Seton Hall University Museum
purchased it from Mr. Tarrant sometime in 1962 or 1963.
The second mask was donated to the Museum in 1992 by Dr. Herbert
Kraft, then Director of the Museum (catalog number 92-3-6). It is not
known how, when or where Mr. Kraft obtained the mask.
Other than the attribution of one mask to the Six Nations Reserve,
and both typologically to the Iroquois (Haudenosaunee), more specific
cultural affiliation of the masks to any one particular nation of the
Haudenosaunee is not possible by the museum. The Haudenosaunee
Confederacy includes the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and
Tuscarora Nations. According to Haudenosaunee culture and traditions,
the Onondaga Nation is the keeper of the central hearth and fire where
the Grand Council of the Confederacy meets. As the keeper of the
central fire, the Onondaga Nation is
[[Page 30160]]
obligated to care for and return to the appropriate Nation,
Haudenosaunee cultural objects that are not specifically affiliated
with any one Haudenosaunee Nation. Written evidence of Haudenosaunee
oral tradition presented during consultation identifies the False Face
masks as being sacred objects needed by traditional Haudenosaunee
religious leaders and objects of cultural patrimony that have ongoing
historical, traditional, and cultural significance to the group and
could not have been alienated by a single individual.
Officials of the Seton Hall University Museum have determined that,
pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(C), the two cultural objects 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
Seton Hall University Museum also have determined that, pursuant to 25
U.S.C. 3001 (3)(D), the two 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 Seton Hall University Museum 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[sol]objects of cultural patrimony and the
Cayuga Nation of New York; Oneida Nation of New York; Oneida Tribe of
Indians of Wisconsin; Onondaga Nation of New York; Seneca Nation of New
York; Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma; Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, New
York; Tonawanda Band of Seneca Indians of New York; and Tuscarora
Nation of New York.
Representatives of any other Indian tribe or Nation that believes
itself to be culturally affiliated with the sacred objects/objects of
cultural patrimony should contact Dr. Thomas W. Kavanagh, Seton Hall
University Museum, Seton Hall University, 400 South Orange Ave., South
Orange, NJ 07079, telephone (973) 375-5873, before June 23, 2008.
Repatriation of the sacred objects[sol]objects of cultural patrimony to
the Onondaga Nation of New York may proceed after that date if no
additional claimants come forward.
The Seton Hall University Museum is responsible for notifying the
Cayuga Nation of New York; Oneida Nation of New York; Oneida Tribe of
Indians of Wisconsin; Onondaga Nation of New York; Seneca Nation of New
York; Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma; Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, New
York; Tonawanda Band of Seneca Indians of New York; Tuscarora Nation of
New York; and Haudenosaunee Standing Committee on Burial Rules and
Regulations, a non-federally recognized Indian organization, that this
notice has been published.
Dated: April 29, 2008.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E8-11572 Filed 5-22-08; 8:45 am]
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