[Federal Register: October 2, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 191)]
[Notices]
[Page 53097-53098]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02oc98-122]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items in the Possession
of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Harvard University,
Cambridge, MA

AGENCY: National Park Service

ACTION: Notice

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    Notice is hereby given under the Native American Graves Protection
and Repatriation Act, 43 CFR 10.10 (a)(3), of the intent to repatriate
cultural items in the possession of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology
and Ethnology, Havard University, Cambridge, MA which meet the
definition of ''sacred object'' and ''object of cultural patrimony''
under Section 2 of the Act.
    The 16 cultural items consist of a skirt or shoulder cape; a ring-
tail cat apron; a hookmen headdress; two sets of dance plumes; a wolf
blinder headdress; three headdresses (headnets); a roll for headdress;
two woodpecker headdresses; a red hummingbird headdress; two dance
baskets; and a head ring.

[[Page 53098]]

    In 1902, the skirt or shoulder cape was purchased by P.M. Jones
directly from a Hupa individual on behalf of the Department of
Anthropology, University of California-Berkeley. In 1904, the
Department of Anthropology, University of California-Berkeley gave this
item to the Peabody Museum at Harvard University as part of an
exchange.
    In 1901, the ring-tail cat apron was collected by P.M. Jones in
Hoopa Valley, on behalf of the Department of Anthropology, University
of California-Berkeley. In 1904, the Department of Anthropology,
University of California-Berkeley gave this item to the Peabody Museum
at Harvard University as part of an exchange.
    Prior to 1904, a headdress (headnet) was collected by Grace A.
Nicholson from a Hupa individual on the Lower Klamath River. She then
sold the this cultural items to Lewis H. Farlow. In 1904, Lewis H.
Farlow donated this headdress to the Peabody Museum at Harvard
University.
    In 1906, the hookmen headdress, a woodpecker headdress, the
wolfblinder headdress, the headdress roll, two set of dance plumes were
very probably purchased by Grace A. Nicholson from Hupa individuals on
the Lower Klamath River. She then sold the these cultural items to
Lewis H. Farlow. In 1906, Lewis H. Farlow donated these items to the
Peabody Museum at Harvard University.
    In 1906, the head ring was very probably purchased by Grace A.
Nicholson in Northern California from a Hupa individual. She then sold
these cultural items to Lewis H. Farlow. In 1906, Lewis H. Farlow
donated this head ring to the Peabody Museum at Harvard University.
    In 1908, a woodpecker headdress, a red hummingbird headdress, and a
dance basket were very probably purchased by Grace A. Nicholson from
Old Sanaxon, a Hupa individual. She then sold these cultural items to
Lewis H. Farlow. In 1908, Lewis H. Farlow donated these cultural items
to the Peabody Museum at Harvard University.
    In 1911, a dance basket was probably purchased by Grace A.
Nicholson from a Hupa individual. She then sold this cultural item to
Lewis H. Farlow. In 1911, Lewis H. Farlow donated this item to the
Peabody Museum at Harvard University.
    In 1909, two headdresses (headnets) were purchased by the Peabody
Museum at Harvard University through the Huntington Frothingham Wolcott
Fund from an unknown individual.
    All of the sixteen cultural items listed above were and are still
used by the Hoopa Valley Tribe of the Hoopa Valley Reservation in the
World Renewal Ceremonies (the White Deerskin Dance and the Jump Dance),
and in the Brush Dance. Each of these cultural items has an associated
creation story and gender identity. Ownership rights to the above
cultural items rest with the Immortals and only secondarily to specific
lineages. Representatives of the Hoopa Valley Tribe of the Hoopa Valley
Reservation have stated that these objects are needed by Hoopa
religious leaders for the practice of traditional Native American
religions by present-day adherents. Representatives of the Hoopa Valley
Tribe of the Hoopa Valley Reservation also state that these objects
have ongoing historical, traditional, and cultural importance central
to the tribe itself and could not have been alienated or conveyed by
any individual.
    An additional cultural item is a doctor's necklace.
    In 1906, this doctor's necklace was very probably purchased by
Grace A. Nicholson, probably from a Hupa individual in Northern
California. She then sold the doctor's necklace to Lewis H. Farlow. In
1906, Lewis H. Farlow donated this doctor's necklace to the Peabody
Museum at Harvard University.
    This doctor's necklace is used for the Kick Dance, a curing
ceremony. Representatives of the Hoopa Valley Tribe of the Hoopa Valley
Reservation have stated that this object is needed by Hoopa religious
leaders for the practice of traditional Native American religions by
present-day adherents.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the Peabody
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology have determined that, pursuant to
43 CFR 10.2 (d)(3), these seventeen cultural items 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 Peabody Museum of
Archaeology and Ethnology have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2
(d)(4), these sixteen cultural items have ongoing historical,
traditional, and cultural importance central to the tribe itself, and
could not have been alienated, appropriated, or conveyed by any
individual. Officials of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and
Ethnology have also determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (e), there
is a relationship of shared group identity which can be reasonably
traced between these items and the Hoopa Valley Tribe of the Hoopa
Valley Reservation.
    This notice has been sent to officials of the Hoopa Valley Tribe of
the Hoopa Valley Reservation. Representatives of any other Indian tribe
that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with these objects
should contact Barbara Issac, Coordinator for Repatriation, Peabody
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, 11 Divinity Ave., Cambridge, MA
022138; telephone (617) 495-2254 before November 2, 1998. Repatriation
of these objects to the Hoopa Valley Tribe of the Hoopa Valley
Reservation may begin after that date if no additional claimants come
forward.
Dated: September 29, 1998.

    Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Manager, Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 98-26420 Filed 10-1-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F

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