[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 112 (Friday, June 11, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31606-31607]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-14831]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Intent to Repatriate a Cultural Item in the Possession
of the American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY
AGENCY: National Park Service.
ACTION: Notice.
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[[Page 31607]]
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 American Museum of Natural
History, New York, NY which meets the definition of ``sacred object''
under Section 2 of the Act.
The cultural item is a Natoas bundle used in the Blackfeet Sun
Dance. The bundle is comprised of a woman's headdress, a badger skin
bag, a digging stick, a case for the items, a shawl for covering the
bundle, four bags for the headdress parts, four bundle skins and
wrappings, a paint outfit bag, nine paint bags, five sets of paints, a
bag with skin scraps, seven rattles, a Nez Perce bag, a rawhide piece,
three smudge sticks, a tripod for supporting the bundle, and a strap
for the main bundle. This particular Natoas bundle is sometimes
referred to as Many White Horses' Natoas bundle.
In 1906, the Museum purchased the bundle (AMNH Accession 1906-5),
through intermediaries, from Mary Wolf Chief, the widow of Many White
Horses. Mary Wolf Chief was co-keeper of the bundle who had the
authority to sell the bundle, and voluntarily sold it to the Museum
because she said that it had brought her bad luck.
Mr. Clayton Arrowtop traces his ancestry directly and without
interruption to Many White Horses and Mary Wolf Chief, his great
grandparents. During consultation, Mr. Arrowtop and Blackfeet elders
identified the bundle as a specific ceremonial object needed by
traditional Native American religious leaders for the practice of
traditional Native American religion by its present-day adherents.
Representatives of the Blackfeet Nation and Blackfeet elders have
confirmed that Mr. Arrowtop is the appropriate custodian of the bundle.
Based on the above-mentioned information, officials of the American
Museum of Natural History have determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2
(d)(3), this cultural item is a specific ceremonial object needed by
traditional Native American religious leaders for the practice of
traditional Native American religions by their present-day adherents.
Officials of the American Museum of Natural History have also
determined that, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.2 (b)(1), Mr. Clayton Arrowtop
can trace his ancestry directly and without interruption by means of
the traditional kinship system of the Blackfeet Nation to Many White
Horses and Mary Wolf Chief. Finally, officials of the Museum have
determined that the Museum has right of possession, but that the Museum
will waive that right in this case.
This notice has been sent to officials of the Blackfeet Nation. Any
other lineal descendant, or representatives of any other Indian tribe
that believes itself to be culturally affiliated with this object
should contact Martha Graham, Registrar for Cultural Resources,
Department of Anthropology, American Museum of Natural History, Central
Park West at 79th Street, telephone: (212) 769-5846 before July 12,
1999. Repatriation of this object to Mr. Clayton Arrowtop may begin
after that date if no additional claimants come forward.
The National Park Service is not responsible for the contents of or
determinations within this notice.
Dated: May 27, 1999.
Francis P. McManamon,
Departmental Consulting Archeologist,
Manager, Archeology and Ethnography Program.
[FR Doc. 99-14831 Filed 6-10-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-F
