98-28806. Notice of Intent to Repatriate a Cultural Item in the Possession of the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 208 (Wednesday, October 28, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 57706]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-28806]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent to Repatriate a Cultural Item in the Possession 
of the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL

AGENCY: National Park Service, DOI.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

    Notice is hereby given under the Native American Graves Protection 
and Repatriation Act, 43 CFR 10.10 (a)(3), of the intent to repatriate 
a cultural item in the possession of the Field Museum of Natural 
History, Chicago, IL which meets the definition of ``unassociated 
funerary object'' under Section 2 of the Act.
    The cultural item consists of a caribou skin robe (catalog number 
78303; accession number 807) painted in red and black with designs 
representing a split figure of a whale on one side and a ``devil fish'' 
on the other.
    In 1902, this robe was purchased by the Field Museum from Lt. G.T. 
Emmons as part of a larger collection of Northwest Coast objects. 
According to Lt. Emmons' field notes, this is a Tlingit shaman's robe 
and was collected in the second half of the 19th century from the 
``Hootz-ar-tar'' tribe.
    The form of this object, its source, and the documentation 
concerning its acquisition lead the Field Museum to blieve that it is a 
shaman's robe of the Hutsnuwu, or Kootznoowoo Tlingit. Representatives 
of Kootznoowoo, Inc. Have verified this identification, and have 
further indicated that this object is reasonably believed to have been 
removed from a specific burial site of a Kootznoowoo individual.
    Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the Field 
Museum of Natural History have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 
(d)(2)(ii), this cultural item is 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 Field 
Museum of Natural History 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 this item and Kootznoowoo, Inc.
    Although officials of the Field Museum recognize the importance of 
these cultural items to Kootznoowoo Inc., the Field Museum asserts that 
it has right of possession of these cultural items. However, the Field 
Museum is willing to return the object under a compromise repatriation 
claim.
    This notice has been sent to officials of Kootznoowoo, Inc. 
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be 
culturally affiliated with this objects should contact Jonathan Haas, 
MacArthur Curator of North American Anthropology, Field Museum of 
Natural History, Roosevelt Road at Lake Shore Dr., Chicago, IL 60605; 
telephone: [phone], ext. 641 before November 27, 1998. 
Repatriation of this object to Kootznoowoo, Inc. may begin after that 
date if no additional claimants come forward.
    The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations 
within this notice.

    Dated: October 6, 1998.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Manager, Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 98-28806 Filed 10-27-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F