[Federal Register: November 2, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 212)]
[Notices]
[Page 64559-64561]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02no06-68]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Southwest Museum
of the American Indian, Autry National Center, Los Angeles, CA
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 Southwest Museum
of the American Indian, Autry National Center, Los Angeles, CA, 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 55 cultural items are 42 pieces of Dilzini Gaan dance material,
6 Dilzini Gaan headdresses, 2 Dilzini Gaan dance wands, 2 crosses, 1
shirt, 1 medicine bundle, and 1 cap.
Southwest Museum officials identified the cultural items and
assessed the cultural affiliation of the cultural items at the request
of the San Carlos Apache Tribe of the San Carlos Reservation, Arizona;
Tonto Apache Tribe of Arizona; White Mountain Apache Tribe of the Fort
Apache Reservation, Arizona; and Yavapai-Apache Nation of the Camp
Verde Indian Reservation, Arizona, which are members of the Western
Apache NAGPRA Working Group. Southwest Museum officials also consulted
with representatives of the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma; Fort Sill Apache
Tribe of Oklahoma; Jicarilla Apache Nation, New Mexico; and Mescalero
Apache Tribe of the Mescalero Reservation, New Mexico.
At an unknown time, the Southwest Museum purchased 42 painted and
carved wooden pieces of Dilzini Gaan dance material from an unknown
person at an unknown location with money provided by the General
Charles McCormack Reeve Fund. No further information has been found to
clarify means of acquisition by the donor.
The 42 wooden pieces of Dilzini Gaan dance material range from 4 to
30 inches in length, and average 2 inches in breadth and .25 inches in
depth. Some of the wooden pieces have been sharpened to a point at each
end, others remain squared and blunt, while others exhibit notched,
flattened or broken edges.
On May 24, 1940, the Southwest Museum acquired one Dilzini Gaan
headdress from Miss Rose Dougan. Museum records identify the cultural
item as an Apache ``Devil Dance'' headdress with a cloth mask. No
further information has been found to clarify means or location of
acquisition by the donor.
The Dilzini Gaan headdress is composed of wooden slats arranged in
a fan shape measuring approximately 38 inches wide and 23 inches high.
The slats are decorated with green, blue, orange, and white paint. Two
tassels made of four slender, blue wooden rods are attached to the
laterally projecting slats, one tassel on the right side and one on the
left side. The mask is approximately 11 inches wide and 17.5 inches
long. It is made of a flour sack painted black. One side of the mask is
imprinted with the words, ``Loveland flour...Love Me.'' Two slits have
been made near the wearer's eyes. Above these holes are a feather and
four white triangles.
On December 3, 1935, the Southwest Museum purchased three Dilzini
Gaan
[[Page 64560]]
headdresses from Ms. Bonnie Gray of Burbank, CA, with money provided by
the General Charles McCormack Reeve Fund. According to correspondence
found in the museum records, Ms. Gray and a companion unearthed the
masks in Arizona from the floor of a deserted Apache cabin during the
middle of the night. Museum records identify all four headdresses as
Apache ``Devil Dance'' material.
The first of the three Dilzini Gaan headdresses is made of wooden
slats tied together with sinew arranged in a fan shape measuring
approximately 31 inches wide and 35 inches high. The slats are
decorated with small mirrors and red, black, blue and yellow painted
zigzags, arrows, birds, and geometric designs. A black cloth mask is
attached to the frame with two slits made for the wearer's eyes. The
second Dilzini Gaan headdress is made of wooden slats tied together
with sinew arranged in a fan shape measuring approximately 30.5 inches
wide and 36 inches high. Blue, red-orange, black, purple, green, and
yellow triangles, diamonds, circles, and other geometric shapes have
been painted on both sides of the wooden slats. The third Dilzini Gaan
headdress is made of long wooden slats divided into three groups and
connected by smaller wooden slats to create a fan shaped arc tied
together with sinew. It measures approximately 26 inches wide and 40
inches high. Red, yellow, blue, purple, and green diamonds, scallops,
triangles, and dots have been painted on both sides of the slats.
Mirrors adhere to the longer slats and one mirror appears to be
missing. Two tassels made of four slender yellow wooden rods are
attached to the laterally projecting slats. There is no mask for the
headdress.
On December 31, 1941, the Southwest Museum received one Dilzini
Gaan headdress and two Dilzini Gaan dance wands from Mr. M.R.
Harrington, Director of Research, Southwest Museum, originating from an
unspecified area in Arizona. Museum records identify the material as
Apache ``Devil Dance'' material. No further information has been found
to clarify means of acquisition by the donor.
The Dilzini Gaan headdress is made of long wooden slats tied
together with sinew and arranged in a fan shape. It measures
approximately 30 inches wide and 31 inches high. Blue, red, and orange
triangles, diamonds, and dots have been painted on the slats. Two
tassels made of four slender wooden rods are attached to the laterally
projecting slats. A black cloth mask is attached to the wooden frame.
Two slits have been made for the wearer's eyes, and silver buttons are
sewn in the same vicinity. The two Dilzini Gaan dance wands are made of
six pointed wooden slats tied together horizontally and attached
perpendicularly to a long wooden handle. Red diamonds have been painted
onto the plane created by the horizontal wooden slats.
On December 12, 1950, the Southwest Museum acquired one Dilzini
Gaan headdress from Mr. Owen L. Gothard of Clark County, NV. Museum
records identify the item as Apache ``Devil Dance'' material. No
further information has been found to clarify means of acquisition by
the donor.
The Dilzini Gaan headdress is made of wooden slats of various
lengths tied together with sinew in both a horizontal and vertical
direction. The slats form a rectangle approximately 19 inches wide and
20.25 inches high. Black, yellow, red, and blue geometric designs have
been painted on both surfaces. A dark cloth face mask is attached to
the frame. The mask measures approximately 18.75 inches in long.
On March 5, 1943, the Southwest Museum received two cultural items
from Mr. John W. Ennis, Jr., of Los Angeles, CA. Museum records
identify the items as a Western Apache medicine shirt and a medicine
bundle composed of a plaque and deerskin bag. According to database
records, the two cultural items were originally obtained by a
missionary. It is unclear how Mr. Ennis, Jr., came to possess the
cultural items. No further information has been found to clarify means
or location of acquisition by the donor.
The medicine shirt, or shaman's garment, is a painted deer hide
with a scalloped border measuring approximately 25.5 inches wide and 30
inches long. A slit has been cut near the center for the wearer's neck.
Black, yellow, and green designs have been painted on both sides of the
hide. The medicine bundle is composed of two items. The first item is a
wooden plaque measuring approximately 9.5 inches wide and 4 inches
long. An orange, black, and white figure has been painted on the plaque
surface. A deerskin thong and feathers are attached to a center
perforation. The second item is a deerskin bag with shoulder strap. The
bag measures approximately 9.75 inches wide and 4.75 inches long. A
green, black, and yellow figure has been painted on the bag, similar to
the one on the wooden plaque. Eight groups of feathers are attached to
the bag and along the length of the strap.
On an unknown date, the Southwest Museum purchased two wooden
crosses from Mr. Bill Smith with money provided by the General Charles
McCormack Reeve Fund. No further information has been found to clarify
means of acquisition by the donor.
The first cross is 56 inches high, 33.5 inches across, and .25
inches thick. The cross is composed of five long wooden slats tapered
to a point distally, traversed horizontally by five shorter wooden
slats. Blue, black, and white zigzagged lines have been painted on the
surface. A circular appendage has been attached to the top of the
cross. Two dark brown feathers measuring 12 inches in length remain
tied to the cross by a cloth cord. The second cross is 52 inches high,
24 inches across, and .25 inches thick. The cross is composed of five
long wooden slats tapered to a point distally, traversed horizontally
by five shorter wooden slats. Blue, black, and white zigzagged lines
have been painted on the surface.
On February 2, 1959, the Southwest Museum acquired one cap from Mr.
Julian Adams of Marino, CA, as part of the Mary E. Adams ethnological
collection. Museum records identify the cap as Apache. The cap is a
man's buckskin cap and exhibits white, black, and dark red beads sewn
in a star pattern. Seven eagle feathers are attached to the top. No
further information has been found to clarify the means or location of
acquisition by the donor.
Consultation and physical inspection of the cultural items
described above by knowledgeable Western Apache traditional cultural
authorities of the San Carlos Apache Tribe of the San Carlos
Reservation, Arizona; Tonto Apache Tribe of Arizona; White Mountain
Apache Tribe of the Fort Apache Reservation, Arizona; and Yavapai-
Apache Nation of the Camp Verde Indian Reservation, Arizona have
identified the cultural items as culturally affiliated with Western
Apache Indian tribes. According to the traditional cultural
authorities, the cultural items have ongoing historical, traditional,
and cultural importance to the Western Apache, and today, must be
returned to the tribes representing the Western Apache to fully
complete the ceremonial cycle into which they were introduced; as such,
the cultural items are objects of cultural patrimony.
According to Western Apache traditional cultural authorities, the
55 cultural items are made and handled according to instructions
received from the Creator. The Creator is the only One who has the
right to possess the cultural items after their use by humans. The
cultural items must be put away properly to return them to the Creator;
as such, the cultural items are sacred objects. The Western Apache are
represented today by the federally
[[Page 64561]]
recognized San Carlos Apache Tribe of the San Carlos Reservation,
Arizona; Tonto Apache Tribe of Arizona; White Mountain Apache Tribe of
the Fort Apache Reservation, Arizona; and Yavapai-Apache Nation of the
Camp Verde Indian Reservation, Arizona. These four tribes are members
of the Western Apache NAGPRA Working Group.
Officials of the Southwest Museum have determined that, pursuant to
25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(C), the 55 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 Southwest
Museum have also determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(D),
the 55 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 Southwest 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 objects of cultural
patrimony and sacred objects and the San Carlos Apache Tribe of the San
Carlos Reservation, Arizona; Tonto Apache Tribe of Arizona; White
Mountain Apache Tribe of the Fort Apache Reservation, Arizona; and
Yavapai-Apache Nation of the Camp Verde Indian Reservation, Arizona.
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to
be culturally affiliated with the objects of cultural patrimony and
sacred objects should contact Dr. Duane H. King, Executive Director, or
Jamie Hebert, NAGPRA Research Associate for Collections, Southwest
Museum of the American Indian, Autry National Center, 234 Museum Drive,
Los Angeles, CA 90065, telephone (323) 221-2164 extension 241, before
December 4, 2006. Repatriation of the objects of cultural patrimony and
scared objects to the San Carlos Apache Tribe of the San Carlos
Reservation, Arizona; Tonto Apache Tribe of Arizona; White Mountain
Apache Tribe of the Fort Apache Reservation, Arizona; and Yavapai-
Apache Nation of the Camp Verde Indian Reservation, Arizona may proceed
after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
Southwest Museum is responsible for notifying the Apache Tribe of
Oklahoma; Fort Sill Apache Tribe of Oklahoma; Jicarilla Apache Nation,
New Mexico; Mescalero Apache Tribe of the Mescalero Reservation, New
Mexico; San Carlos Reservation, Arizona; Tonto Apache Tribe of Arizona;
White Mountain Apache Tribe of the Fort Apache Reservation, Arizona;
and Yavapai-Apache Nation of the Camp Verde Indian Reservation, Arizona
that this notice has been published.
Dated: September 28, 2006.
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E6-18509 Filed 11-1-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S