[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 230 (Wednesday, November 27, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 60303]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-30341]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Notice of Intent to Repatriate a Cultural Item from Alaska in the
Possession of the Denver Museum of Natural History, Denver, CO
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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Notice is hereby given under the Native American Graves Protection
and Repatriation Act of 1990 of the intent to repatriate a cultural
item in the possession of the Denver Museum of Natural History, Denver,
CO, that meets the definition of ``cultural patrimony'' under section 2
of the act.
The hat is of circular wooden construction, eighteen inches in
diameter at the lower rim and seven inches high at the crown. It is
decorated with paint, hair, cowrie and abalone shells. A separate
wooden crest, nine inches in height, is attached to the top of the hat.
The hat with the crest and the carving on the face of it looks like a
Northwest Pacific Coast representation of a Killerwhale.
The hat was sold by Annie Jacobs to Michael R. Johnson in January
1974. The hat was purchased by Francis V. and Mary W. A. Crane in 1975
and donated to the Denver Museum of Natural History in 1976.
Evidence provided by the Jacobs Family of the Dakla'aweidi clan and
additional information provided by the Dakla'aweidi clan through the
Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska
identifies the hat as a Killerwhale Clan hat (Keet S'aaxw) of the
Dakla'aweidi Killerwhale House. They further state that the hat is an
object of cultural patrimony with ongoing historical, traditional, and
cultural importance to the Tlingit people. Lastly, they assert that no
individual has the legal right to alienate this clan hat and that sale
of the hat to Mr. Johnson was done without the approval of the clan.
Officials of the Denver Museum of Natural History have determined
that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (3)(D), this cultural item has ongoing
historical, traditional, and cultural importance central to the culture
itself, and could not have been alienated, appropriated, or conveyed by
any individual. Officials of the Denver Museum of Natural History have
also determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001 (2), there is a
relationship of shared group identity which can be reasonably traced
between this item and the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian
Tribes of Alaska acting on behalf of the Dakla'aweidi Clan.
Copies of this notice have been sent to the Central Council of the
Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska and of the Dakla'aweidi Clan.
Representatives of any other Indian tribe that believes itself to be
culturally affiliated with this object should contact Dr. Robert B.
Pickering, Department of Anthropology, Denver Museum of Natural
History, 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver, CO 80205-5798, telephone: (303)
370-6492, FAX (303) 331-6492, email rpick@csn.org before December 27,
1996. Repatriation of the object to the Central Council of the Tlingit
and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska on behalf of the Dakla'aweidi Clan,
may begin after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
Dated: November 21, 1996
Richard C. Waldbauer,
Acting, Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Acting Manager, Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 96-30341 Filed 11-26-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F
