[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 45 (Wednesday, March 6, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 8972]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-5265]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items in the Possession
of the Museum of New Mexico, Santa Fe, NM
AGENCY: National Park Service
ACTION: Notice
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Notice is hereby given under the Native American Graves Protection
and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3005(a)(2), of the intent to repatriate
cultural items in the possession of the Museum of Indian Arts and
Culture, Laboratory of Anthropology, Museum of New Mexico, Santa Fe, NM
which meet the definition of ``sacred object'' as defined in Section 2
of the Act.
The ten objects include: one snake effigy; one parrot effigy; two
wooden balls; two katsina figures; three fetishes; and prayersticks,
fetishes, and talismans comprising one shrine.
Between 1928 and 1972, the Museum of New Mexico accessioned these
ten cultural items into its collections.
In 1928, the three wooden cylindrical fetishes were purchased at
the Pueblo of Acoma by Mr. George H. Huddy during a Fred Harvey Car
tour.
On October 6, 1957, Mr. and Mrs. G. Olmi illegally removed a shrine
from Acoma tribal lands, and donated the shrine consisting of
prayersticks, wood fetishes, and talismans to the Museum of New Mexico.
In 1958, one red and white cylindrical katsina figure was purchased
from Mr. James K. Riley, and the other brown, white, blue, and black
cylindrical Mountain katsina figure purchased from Mr. James Byrns.
In 1968, the Museum of New Mexico purchased the green carved foot-
tall parrot effigy from Mr. Joe Chavez of San Fidel, NM.
In 1972, the second small unpainted wooden ball was improperly
removed from Acoma lands by a Museum of New Mexico archeologist.
The Museum has no information concerning the collection or donation
of the snake effigy or one of the wooden balls. The wood snake effigy
is undecorated. The small wooden ball is unpainted, with a notation
``purchase MCS''. Museum records do not indicate the meaning of
``purchase MCS''.
During consultation with the Museum of New Mexico, representatives
of the Pueblo of Acoma identified these objects as necessary for the
practice of traditional Acoma religion. Provenance information
indicates the objects are Acoma in origin and most likely used by Acoma
during the last one hundred years, and as recently as the 1950s.
Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the Museum
of New Mexico have determined that, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(C),
these cultural items are specific ceremonial objects which are needed
by traditional Native American religious leaders for the practice of
traditional Native American religions by their present day adherents.
Officials of the Museum of New Mexico 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 these items and the
Pueblo of Acoma.
This notice has been sent to representatives of the Pueblo of
Acoma. Representatives of any other Indian tribe which believes itself
to be culturally affiliated with these objects should contact Dr. Bruce
Bernstein, Director, Museum of Indian Arts and Culture/Museum of New
Mexico, P.O. Box 2087, Santa Fe, NM 87504-2087, telephone (505) 827-
6344 before April 5, 1996. Repatriation of these objects to the Pueblo
of Acoma may begin after that date if no additional claimants come
forward.
Dated:
Francis P. McManamon
Departmental Consulting Archeologist
Chief, Archeology and Ethnography Program
[FR Doc. 96-5265 Filed 3-5-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F
