FR Doc E9-2114[Federal Register: February 2, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 20)]
[Notices]
[Page 5851-5852]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02fe09-51]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items: Western Reserve
Historical Society, Cleveland, OH
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 Western Reserve
Historical Society, Cleveland, OH, that meets the definitions of
"unassociated funerary objects," and "sacred 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 eight objects are one shaman crown or headdress (No number);
one shaman bone necklace (No number); one bear bone amulet (Accession
42.417); one spirit chaser bone amulet (No number, possibly Accession
427); one kushdakka bone amulet (Accession 427); one raven bone amulet
(Accession 427); one eel bone amulet (Accession 427); and one ivory
burial figure (Accession 42.1255).
The Western Reserve Historical Society was founded in 1867, and
until 1940 records for accessions were scant or non-existent. Starting
in 1894, book numbers were assigned consecutively to objects. This
practice was terminated in 1940. From 1940-1943, a large-scale
inventory of the Society's holdings was conducted and accession numbers
were assigned to those objects with no prior book number or
provenience. No cultural affiliation is listed in the original
accession and catalog records for the eight cultural items. Photographs
of the items and copies of catalog records were sent to various Alaskan
Native Villages and Corporations. Collaboration with the Cleveland
Museum of Natural History aided in the cultural identification of the
cultural items to the Tlingit and Haida.
The burial figure (42.1255) does not have specific provenience
information other than a catalog card that states "burial figure taken
from elevated grave in Alaska." Based on museum records and
consultation with representatives of the Central Council of the Tlingit
& Haida Indian Tribes, officials of the Western Reserve Historical
Society have determined that the cultural item is an unassociated
funerary object, and culturally affiliated with the Tlingit.
The shaman headdress and necklace were unfortunately overlooked in
the 1940 inventory process and remain without an accession number. No
provenience information has been found in the records. However, based
on consultation with the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian
Tribes, the two cultural items have been determined to be sacred
objects, and culturally affiliated with the Tlingit.
In 1915, the bear amulet (42.417) was given to the Western Reserve
Historical Society. The cultural item is from the Ben G. Goodman
collection. Mr. Goodman, a former resident of Cleveland, spent 16 years
as a fur trapper and resident of Nome, AK.
In April 1916, the estate of Colonel Orlando John Hodge of
Cleveland was donated to the Western Reserve Historical Society. The
accession register lists "four carved ivory amulets," which are
reasonably believed to be these four ivory amulets (Accession 427).
Col. Hodge's connection to Alaska and how he acquired the amulets is
unknown. However, based on consultation with the Central Council of the
Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes, the two cultural items have been
determined to be sacred objects, and culturally affiliated with the
Tlingit.
The Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes further
identified the headdress, necklace, and amulets as shaman (or ixt')
objects, and as such sacred objects. Evidence given during consultation
with the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes have
indicated that shaman objects would have been buried with the shaman,
and are therefore, funerary objects. Finally, consultation evidence of
Tlingit property rights state that shaman sacred objects are also
considered property of the clan. However, the specific shaman(s) and
the clan(s) are unknown for the cultural items described in this
notice.
Officials of the Western Reserve Historical Society have determined
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(B), the eight 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 an Native
American individual. Officials of the Western Reserve Historical
Society also have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(C),
the seven 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. Lastly, officials of the Western Reserve Historical Society
have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (2), there is a
relationship of shared group identity that can be
[[Page 5852]]
reasonably traced between the unassociated funerary objects and sacred
objects and the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes.
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to
be culturally affiliated with the unassociated funerary objects and/or
sacred objects should contact Danielle Routhier Peck, Senior Registrar,
Western Reserve Historical Society, 10825 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH
44106, telephone (216) 721-5722 extension 262, before March 4, 2009.
Repatriation of the unassociated funerary objects and sacred objects to
the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes may proceed
after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
The Western Reserve Historical Society is responsible for notifying
the Central Council of Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes, Huna Heritage
Foundation, and Sealaska Heritage Institute that this notice has been
published.
Dated: December 24, 2008
Sherry Hutt,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. E9-2114 Filed 1-30-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-50-S
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